German publisher withdraws Mossad book

13 January 2004

BERLIN – The German edition of a controversial book by a purported female Israeli Mossad secret agent has been withdrawn by its publisher amid allegations of fraud.

The German edition of the French book “Je Devais Aussi Tuer” (Even Forced to Kill) by the pseudonymous author Nima Zamar was withdrawn by Kindler Verlag publishing house pending clarification of questions of authenticity, the publishers said.

Kindler said the author and the French Albin Michel publishing house had been asked to respond to claims that the book is a distortion of the facts.

The German publishers acted after ZDF television in Germany aired a report taking the book to task.

Specifically, longtime Mossad head and Israeli National Security Council member Efraim Halevi told ZDF, “I have never heard of Nima Zamar and have not read this book. I know of no such person.”

When the German edition of the book appeared last month, Kindler announced that the manuscript had been cleared by Halevi and the Mossad in advance of publication.

“No such book was ever submitted to me for approval during my tenure with the Mossad,” Halevi told ZDF television.

He also took issue with claims in the book that of blatant human-rights abuses by Mossad functionaries.

“These are utter fabrications,” he told ZDF.

DPA
Subject: German news