U.S. Has No Evidence of Wider Israeli Spying, State Dept. Says

The Reagan Administration “welcomes and accepts” Israel’s promise of full cooperation in the Jonathan Jay Pollard spy case and has no evidence of a broader Israeli spying network, the State Department said Monday.

The department sought to end speculation that the Israeli government has not cooperated in the investigation of Pollard and that the case is just one instance of widespread Israeli spying in the United States.

State Department spokesman Bernard Kalb said the statement “reflects the view of all elements of the Administration.”

Former Navy Analyst

Pollard, 31, a former Navy analyst, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to charges of conspiring to deliver secret U.S. military information to Israeli agents. His wife, Anne Henderson-Pollard, 25, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of unauthorized possession of classified documents. Four Israelis--including an intelligence officer and an air force colonel--were named as unindicted co-conspirators in the spy operation.

Federal prosecutors said the investigation was continuing and did not rule out further indictments by a federal grand jury in the case. Pollard, in exchange for a lighter prison term, agreed to cooperate with Justice Department investigators.

Kalb said the indictment and successful prosecution of Pollard “was made possible through the cooperation of the government of Israel.” He declined to elaborate.

The U.S. statement followed the Israeli government’s reiteration Sunday that it has given “full cooperation” in the case.

“Israel reasserts its firm policy that no espionage activities whatsoever are conducted on its behalf against the United States,” an Israeli Cabinet statement said. “Israel has provided full cooperation regarding the Pollard case.”