Herbert (Nahum) Pundik, a senior Danish journalist and former chief editor of Politiken, admitted he provided intelligence to the Mossad and to Danish military intelligence. Haaretz writes:
"I traveled all over Africa under the cover of [being] a journalist," said Pundik. "In general, where is the boundary between espionage and journalism? For example, I wrote a detailed analysis of the tribes in Somalia and their attitude toward political parties, I investigated the political situation in northern Nigeria. These were things that the newspaper was also interested in."
Is that intelligence work? the interviewer pressured him. "Yes, in large part it was intelligence work, and I did it on one condition, which I was glad was fulfilled, that my reports be transferred to Denmark as well. The late Peter Isloe, who was no. 2 in the Danish military intelligence, received copies of my reports from the Israelis."
Pundik moved to Israel in 1948 and has served in the Israeli army. He says his association with the Mossad didn't effect his impartiality, but the revelation touched off debates on journalism ethics in both Denmark and Israel.
Makes the recent fuss over NY Times bureau chief Ethan Bronner seem awfully silly.
