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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 8 February 2022
Report: Israel police used spyware on Netanyahu’s son, aides

By JOSEPH KRAUSS leaders, former directors
Associated Press of Cabinet ministries and
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli mayors, Calcalist reported.
police allegedly used spy- It said the organizers of
ware on the phones of for- demonstrations on behalf
mer Prime Minister Benja- of disabled people and
min Netanyahu’s son and Israel’s Ethiopian minority
members of his inner circle, were also targeted.
a local newspaper report- The newspaper said po-
ed Monday. lice used the spyware to
Calcalist has published a gather intelligence before
series of recent reports al- any investigation had been
leging that police used opened and without judi-
sophisticated spyware cial warrants. It’s not clear
against protesters and oth- whether Netanyahu’s inner
er Israeli citizens, prompting circle was targeted in con-
condemnation from across nection with his ongoing
the political spectrum. The corruption trial or for other
allegations could also un- reasons. A spokesman for
dermine Netanyahu’s on- the Netanyahu family did
going corruption trial, after not respond to a request
reports that police used for comment.
spyware to surveil a key wit- Bennett, who replaced
ness. Netanyahu as prime minis-
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, prays with his sons Avner Netanyahu, right, and ter last June, said Pegasus
Bennett said the allega- Yair Netanyahu at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem’s Old City, and other products “are
tions, if true, are “very seri- Jan. 22, 2013. important tools in the fight
ous.” Associated Press against terrorism and se-
Public Security Minister years in question.” He said much of the alleged snoop- advisors and the wife of vere crime, but they were
Omer Barlev announced the alleged violations ap- ing, has declined comment another defendant in one not intended to be used
the formation of a govern- pear to have been carried on the matter. of three corruption cases in phishing campaigns tar-
ment commission of inquiry, out under former officials in Calcalist says the police against the former leader. geting the Israeli public or
to be led by a retired judge, previous governments. used spyware against a They are among several officials — which is why we
that will “investigate in Israel’s previous police phone registered to Netan- prominent figures to have need to understand ex-
depth the violation of civil chief, Roni Alsheikh, who yahu’s son, Avner, as well been targeted with spy- actly what happened,” he
rights and privacy in the was in command during as two communications ware, including business said in a statement. q

UK rebukes China for supporting

Argentina’s Falklands claim

BEIJING (AP) — Britain on gentina’s demand for the diplomatic boycott of the
Monday firmly rejected full exercise of sovereignty Beijing Winter Olympics
a statement from China over the Malvinas Islands,” to protest China’s human
that affirmed Beijing’s sup- using the Argentine name rights record.
port for Argentina’s claim for the territory. The two The joint statement also
to the Falkland Islands, as leaders met as Fernandez said Argentina “reaffirms its
relations between London was in Beijing for the Winter adherence to the one-Chi-
and Asia’s leading power Olympics. na principle,” a reference
remain strained. Argentina believes the Falk- to China’s claim to the self-
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss lands were illegally taken governing island democ- In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese
said in a tweet that the from it in 1833 and invaded racy of Taiwan. President Xi Jinping, right, and Argentina’s President Alberto
United Kingdom “com- the British colony in 1982. “China and Argentina Fernandez pose for a photo before their bilateral meeting at the
pletely” rejected “any The United Kingdom sent agree to carry on with close Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022.
Associated Press
questions over sovereignty troops and Argentina lost communication and co-
of the Falklands.” the two-month war for the ordination in international frastructure worldwide. na-China engagement,”
“The Falklands are part of South Atlantic archipelago affairs, and safeguard the China has overtaken Brazil said Pepe Zhang, director
the British family and we will in a conflict that claimed overall interests of the two as Argentina’s main com- and fellow at the Atlantic
defend their right to self de- the lives of 649 Argentines countries and other devel- mercial partner, and if talks Council’s Adrienne Arsht
termination. and 255 British soldiers. oping countries,” the state- with Beijing remain on track, Latin America Center.
China must respect the Argentina still claims the is- ment said. Argentina would become During his visit, Fernandez
Falklands’ sovereignty,” she lands. Xi and Fernandez also the first of the four major also laid a wreath at the
wrote. London says the Falklands pledged closer economic Latin American economies Chairman Mao Memorial
Chinese President Xi Jinping are a self-governing entity cooperation and signed to join the initiative. Hall, where the embalmed
and his Argentine counter- under its protection. a memorandum of un- “Belt and Road Initiative body of Mao Zedong, the
part Alberto Fernandez is- Relations with China have derstanding on Argentina integration won’t be a communist revolutionary
sued a joint statement on already been strained on joining the “Belt and Road paradigm shift but rather who founded the People’s
Sunday that said China multiple fronts, including Initiative,” Xi’s signature a continuation of broader Republic, is displayed inside
“reaffirms its support for Ar- Britain’s joining a U.S.-led project to build Chinese in- trends of growing Argenti- a crystal sarcophagus.q