WTF? Former Mossad head: Israel doesn't boycott trade with Iran, Ofer brothers company didn't break any law

Israeli leaders are shooting self in leg, then jumping on wound. Look, if the company served Israel's intelligence operation - then by all means - keep it all silent and active and quietly approach state department to clarify sanctions imposed by USA. But this statement is so bizarre it's amazing. And it comes from a man who should know better. Him, and his friends - are leaving us all confused and baffled. If an intelligence operation was uncovered, then don't respond and let the media know not to delve into an open security issue.

But this is not what we are witnessing. We are witnessing greed. Trade with Israel's worst enemy and circling the wagons in face of justified public outcry. Shameful beyond belief.

Ex-Mossad chief: Israeli firm didn't break any laws in Iran deals

Meir Dagan, commenting on recent U.S. sanctions on Ofer Brothers Group, says there is no law preventing anyone from docking in Iran, and that Israel did not boycott Iran

The Ofer Brothers Group did not break any laws in the Iranian tank affair, former Mossad chief Meir Dagan said on Wednesday, saying that he did not know of any boycott on Iran.

Last week the U.S. State Department announced sanctions on the Israeli business group and a Singapore-based subsidy, Tanker Pacific, for their roles in a September 2010 transaction that provided Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines with a tanker.

The Ofer group has denied the allegation, but no Israeli government agency has come forward to confirm that the state could vouch for it.

Sources close to the group say they have contacted the defense and foreign ministries to help them remove the Ofer Bros. Group from the U.S. blacklist. This claim could also not be confirmed by official Israeli sources.

Earlier this week, Dagan, commenting on the Ofer affair, said that he felt the media coverage blew the issue out of proportion.

Speaking on Wednesday, the former Mossad chief said that he was "not the Ofer family's defender, I am not their representative, I'm just concerned about the State of Israel."

"There's no law saying you can't dock in Iran. I'm worried about the thousands of Ofer family workers who could get hurt by the issue and their livelihood means a lot to me," Dagan said, adding: "They did not trade with Iran. They're a transportation company. And besides, there's no boycott on Iran."

On Tuesday, a discussion by the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee on the Ofer Brothers' dealings with Iran was halted after 15 minutes because of warnings from the defense establishment that they might damage the State of Israel, an Israeli source close to the Ofer family has told Haaretz.

Committee chairman MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen suddenly adjourned the meeting after being handed a note, the content of which he declined to divulge.

According to the source close to the Ofer family, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the matter, Israeli officials have been assisted in a number of cases in recent years by the Ofer family's business activities in the Persian Gulf for "national needs."

"It's no secret that the State of Israel sometimes seeks the help of business people," the source said. "Some agree and some don't."

The source said that apparently "someone in the defense establishment woke up and understood that the meeting MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen wanted to hold would have caused damage."

Both the Prime Minister's Bureau and the military censor denied requesting or recommending that Shama-Hacohen adjourn the meeting.

To me it smells like greed, not a covert Mossad operation. Obviously they won't be able to continue deals with Iran, so just come clean - don't justify it.