Israel helps search for U.S. intelligence officer
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, August 21, 2000
TEL AVIV - Israel has agreed to help search for a senior U.S.
military officer who is believed to have defected to the Jewish state.
The search is for Lt. Col. Jeremiah Mattysse, a senior reserve
intelligence officer who converted to Judaism and failed to return to his
base at the U.S. Army Intelligence Support Center in Camp Bullis. Israeli
sources said Mattysse commanded a secret base in Texas whose unit had access
to classified information produced by the CIA and other intelligence
agencies.
The sources said the United States regards this as a criminal matter.
They said Mattysse, 49, has been charged in a military court with
desertion, absence without leave and conduct unbecoming an officer after
failing to return to duty a little more than a week ago. They said Mattysse
is believed to have joined the Habad hasidic group after he converted to
Judaism last year.
"We have reason to believe he is in Israel and we have asked the Israeli
government to help us return him to the U.S.," U.S. Embassy spokesman Larry
Schwartz said.
A friend of Mattysse said he was spirited out of Israel to Syria. But
Israeli sources have assessed that Mattysse remains in the country.
"I received a telephone call that he is in Damascus and doesn't know
what to do there," girlfriend Ricky Nir said. "He left in disguise wearing a
wig, moustache and a beard. He is always changing his disguise."
Ms. Nir said three staffers from the U.S. Embassy visited her home in
Kfar Saba and took material sent by Mattysse while a military attache asked
her to fly to San Antonio for questioning. She said Mattysse was fired from
his post after he became Orthodox.
U.S. officials said Mattysse is not accused of having illegal ties with
Israel. But Ms. Nir said Mattysse tried to help Israel with intelligence
information.
Monday, August 21, 2000
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