Israeli Book Controversy and Mossad Claims

An Israeli request to stop the distribution of a book

that contains some pretty

damning information about the Israeli Secret Service, the Mossad, if it

is true. Here's ABC's John Martin.

The most sensational claim in the book involves this bloody day, the

Beirut Marine barracks bombing. The book says Israeli

agents kept vital information from US Marines that might have saved the

lives of two hundred forty-one Americans killed here.

Israeli government sources deny this account, but according to the book,

an Israeli informant saw a Mercedes truck being fitted with

secret panels for explosives. Israeli troops were told to be on the

lookout for the truck, but the book says the Israelis

intentionally gave the

Americans only a vague warning, not mentioning the kind or size

of vehicle. The book says Israeli intelligence

was willing to

let the terrorists succeed to protect their sources and

out of contempt for US intelligence.

It says agents withheld information on US hostages for similar reasons.

In Toronto today, the author was under a court-ordered gag not to

discuss the book or the case.

You see, there's two restrictions.

There's one restriction that I can't talk about what I learned

or have done in the

Mossad, and the other restriction is I cannot talk about anything that's in

the

book.

Israeli officials confirm that Victor Ostrovsky worked for the

Mossad in the

1980s. Alarmed by the contents of the book,

they got it

temporarily blocked in Canada and the United States.

It's the position of the Israeli government that the information contained

in the

book could very well lead to the identification of employees of the

Mossad and could jeopardize their lives.

But the book's introduction says it does not name active agents and gives only

initials. It does say that more than two dozen senior Israeli

agents routinely gather intelligence in the United States.

Late today, the book was put out for sale in New York after the

court lifted

its restraining order. The publishers claimed victory,

but the Israeli

embassy said it will still pursue its action against the author.

John Martin, ABC News, Washington.