What's Really behind the Screaming Headlines about the Arrest of

By Lenny Ben David

American engineer Ben-Ami Kadish was arrested on Tuesday for
allegedly providing to an Israeli "handler" classified data on
nuclear weapons, F-15 fighter jets, and the Patriot missile air
defense system.

A few important points of perspective are vital: Kadish is 84
years old. The alleged crime took place some 25-30 years ago (!),
between 1979 and 1985. Today Mr. Kadish lives an open, active
life in a New Jersey retirement village where he and his wife
open their sukka every year to raise money for local charities
and for Magen David Adom.

Why now?

Do federal prosecutors really see octogenarian Kadish as a major
criminal? More likely, Kadish is being used by American officials
as a means to loosen support for Israel as the two countries
enter a tenacious period of negotiations. This is a pattern of
American pressure that repeats itself. The tactic is geared to
embarrass American supporters of Israel, particularly Members of
Congress, who oppose weapons sales to Israel's foes, dangerous
concessions to the Palestinians, or the abrogation of previous
commitments to Israel. The 2005 arrest of two AIPAC staffers is
more of the same, and they were charged under the creaky 1917
Espionage Act statute older than Kadish. For years, unnamed
American spy-hunters have been looking for an accomplice to
Jonathan Pollard. Leaks on these stories almost always took place
on the eve of some contretemps with the U.S. State Department.

Today's case against 84-year-old Kadish reflects more the
impatience of the U.S. Secretary of State with Israel's decision
to continue building in Jerusalem and to retain security
roadblocks.