There’s still a lot of smoke, but no apparent fire yet in the Israeli spy allegation stories. It’s also difficult to fathom just how this will play out in terms of domestic parliamentary politics. The most obvious issue so far is in terms of how the Prime Minister has dealt with the emerging scandal, with numerous reports evaluating his response yesterday – see, for example, Tracy Watkins’s PM John Key finds himself on shaky ground. The scandal has certainly taken the gloss off John Key’s trip to Washington.
Most journalists and commentators seem unimpressed with Key’s reluctance to answer questions as well as his U-turn on the issue, but some also acknowledge that he was simply ‘caught on the hop’. The whole line about it not being ‘in the national interest to discuss’ is also receiving some critical analysis, with some asking if the hush is simply designed to avoid embarrassing Israel. Phil Goff is especially critical of Key’s response – see: Key mishandled spy issue – Goff. And Keith Locke is asking some good questions too: ‘There is a reluctance to say or do anything that embarrasses the Israeli government, particularly as the current National government has adopted a stronger pro-Israeli foreign policy stance than Labour. It would be good if there was more public scrutiny of this’ (More information needed on spy story).
The spy story is being covered very well by Radio New Zealand. And the most interesting item so far, has been a Morning Report interview with British Mossad expert Gordon Thomas (audio), which is also reported in Lane Nichols’ Israelis 'likely an official covert team'. All of this suggests that we might soon see a shift in the Government’s orientation towards the state of Israel. [Continue reading below for a full list of the highlights of NZ Politics Daily]
Israeli spy allegations
Fred Tulett (Southland Times): Yes, but I still back sources on Israelis
Fred Tulett and Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Israeli ‘spy’ story won’t die
Tracy Watkins (Dom Post): PM John Key finds himself on shaky ground
Claire Trevett and Derek Cheng (NZH): Israelis ‘were just backpackers’
Lane Nichols (Dom Post): Israelis 'likely an official covert team'
James Murray (TV3): Key confirms SIS investigated Israeli 'spies'
John Hartevelt (Stuff): Family's fear over Israeli victim's passport
Amanda Fisher, Shane Cowlishaw and John Hartevelt (Dom Post): Israeli man 'had nothing to do with nobody'
Liz Puranam / 3 News staff: Israeli ambassador refuses to answer questions
TV3: Video – Duncan Garner on Israeli ‘spy’ drama
Southland Times Editorial: Interestingly enough
Patrick Gower and Duncan Garner (TV3): Israeli spy drama fizzles out
Toby Manhire (Listener): Israeli newspaper attacks ‘slanderous reports’ from NZ
Katie Bradford-Crozier (Newstalk ZB): Spy claims were fully investigated – Key
TVNZ: Israeli row clouds PM's US visit
TV3: How valuable are NZ passports? – full interview
Lane Nichols (Dom Post): Police database like gold to spies, says SIS expert Hager
NZH: Spyware bid to steal data ‘possible but not plausible’
Felix Marwick, Anna Cross and Newstalk ZB Staff (Newstalk ZB): Key mishandled spy issue – Goff
Sam Sachdeva (Press): Goff criticises failure to tell committee
Keith Locke (frogblog): More information needed on spy story
Anthony Robins (The Standard): National security
No Right Turn: With "friends" like these, who needs enemies?
RNZ: Inquiry found no Israeli spy link – McCully
Electorate deals
Vernon Small (Stuff): Mutual back-scratching comes with the territory, fair or foul
NZPA: ACT confirms stronger relationship with National
ODT: Parker seeks to contest Epsom seat
Adam Bennett (NZH): Little: Act deal on Epsom sign of desperation
Felix Marwick (Newstalk ZB): Brash stays quiet about deal with National
RNZ: More National-ACT electorate deals possible
No Right Turn: A sensible deal
Kiwpolitico: Competing electoral insurgencies, in Epsom and beyond
Whaleoil: National & ACT Screwing Labour
Whaleoil: Labour’s Strategic Stupidity
John Pagani: Are National and Act creating legal trouble in Epsom
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): John does not understand
John Key in Washington
Gordon Campbell (Wellingtonian): Lessons from the Americans?
Audrey Young (NZH): PM clears slate for Obama meeting
Audrey Young (NZH): Prime Minister talks technical with legendary Facebook boss
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Key talks up business in the US
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Political Report: July 21
Audrey Young (NZH): Visit by US Coast Guard on agenda
Roy Morgan opinion poll
David Farrar (Stuff): A closer poll to cheer Labour
Felix Marwick (Newstalk ZB): National drops in latest poll
The Standard: Nats drop 5% in Roy Morgan, Left surges
Other
John Hartevelt (Stuff): 'Freebies' lead to Debt Management Office audit call
RNZ: Treasury officials receive meals, tickets
Felix Marwick (Newstalk ZB): Kiwi firms should get major Govt contracts
RNZ: Labour policy aimed at keeping jobs in NZ
Wilma McCorkindale (D Scene): Grim news greets Phil Goff in Dunedin
RNZ: Treaty settlrments devalue while iwi fight, says MP
Editorial (NZH): Frontline SAS fighters have a point
NZPA: Quake panel leader defends 'reasonable' fee
No Right Turn: Maybe Brownlee should have asked?
Felix Marwick (Newstalk ZB): Katene not happy with choice of opponent
Simon Cunliffe (ODT): Why asset sales isn't debatable
Jarrod Booker (NZH): Department has only one staff member to check mines safety
Hayden Donnell (NZH): Police urged to arrest runaway torture suspect
Elizabeth Binning (NZH): Kindergartens crying poor - with big cash stashes
Dom Post: Destiny move into women’s group ‘smelt fishy’
Patrick Smellie (Stuff): Public demand drives gutter journalism
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Who entered when?
Dom Post: Today in Politics – Thursday
iPredict: 2011 ELECTION UPDATE #35
