Usually it takes a couple of stories. First foreign officials condemn reports that NSA has gathered intelligence on their government. Then, later, they have to admit that, well, yes, they do sometimes spy on the United States.
But Israel has taken chutzpah to new heights — simultaneously demanding that the United States stop spying on Israel and that it release the guy caught spying on the United States for Israel:
Senior Israeli officials on Sunday demanded an end to U.S. spying on Israel, following revelations that the National Security Agency intercepted emails from the offices of the country’s top former leaders.
It was the first time that Israeli officials have expressed anger since details of U.S. spying on Israel began to trickle out in documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The scandal also spurred renewed calls for the release of Jonathan Pollard, a former American intelligence analyst who has been imprisoned in the U.S. for nearly three decades for spying on behalf of Israel.
“This thing is not legitimate,” Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio. He called for both countries to enter an agreement regarding espionage.
“It’s quite embarrassing between countries who are allies,” Tourism Minister Uzi Landau said. “It’s this moment more than any other moment that Jonathan Pollard (should) be released.”
Unfortunately, while voting for the 2014 Privacy Hypocrite of the Year is still open, it is too late for Israel to overcome the lead of nominees like Kathleen Sebelius, Jim Sensenbrenner, and Francois Hollande.