One of those incited was Steven Rosen, who was AIPAC's policy director and considered an excellent lobbyist for Israel. AIPAC has said it has reduced its lobbying activities since it fired Rosen, eight months after it was known that the two men were being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Federal prosecutor Paul McNulty handed down the indictments on Thursday against Rosen and Keith Weissman, an AIPAC Iran analyst before his dismissal, on charges of "conspiracy to communicate national defense information to people not entitled to receive it." Rosen also is charged with communicating classified information. The two men face up to 10 years in prison, but their attorneys expressed confidence that the courts would acquit them of all charges.
Jewish American leaders fear that the indictment will weaken AIPAC, considered a powerful pro-Israel lobby group. AIPAC has said it has reduced lobbying activities as a result of the investigation.
"AIPAC could not condone or tolerate the conduct of the two employees under any circumstances," according to the group’s spokesman Patrick Dorton. "The organization does not seek, use or request anything but legally obtained [and] appropriate information as part of its work."
The prosecutor pointed out that the indictment does not contain accusations against the Israeli government or AIPAC and that Rosen and Weissman "put their own interests and views of American foreign policy ahead of America's national security."
The indictments revealed that the investigation goes back further than first thought and that American government officials also were investigated. The probe went back to 1999 and concerned information on Iran and terrorist attacks in several countries, including Saudi Arabia. Rosen and Weissman are charged with exchanging information with three American officials and three workers at the Israeli Embassy.
Rosen allegedly revealed to the media classified information on American Middle East strategy in 2000 and relayed information to AIPAC on the Al Qaeda terrorist network two years later. One of the three unidentified government officials who received information in the case was recently appointed by President George W. Bush to a senior position.
It previously was reported that the only people investigated were Rosen, Weissman, former Pentagon Iran analyst Larry Franklin, who has already been indicted, and Israeli diplomat Naor Gilon.
A leader of American Jewish organizations expressed concern that the government indicted the former AIPAC employees but not the government officials involved in the case. "They should be going after all the guys who gave the information," said Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice-president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The charges are different from passing classified information to another nation, for which Jonathan Pollard was convicted 20 years ago, after a plea bargain, but given the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
Federal prosecutor Paul McNulty handed down the indictments on Thursday against Rosen and Keith Weissman, an AIPAC Iran analyst before his dismissal, on charges of "conspiracy to communicate national defense information to people not entitled to receive it." Rosen also is charged with communicating classified information. The two men face up to 10 years in prison, but their attorneys expressed confidence that the courts would acquit them of all charges.
Jewish American leaders fear that the indictment will weaken AIPAC, considered a powerful pro-Israel lobby group. AIPAC has said it has reduced lobbying activities as a result of the investigation.
"AIPAC could not condone or tolerate the conduct of the two employees under any circumstances," according to the group’s spokesman Patrick Dorton. "The organization does not seek, use or request anything but legally obtained [and] appropriate information as part of its work."
The prosecutor pointed out that the indictment does not contain accusations against the Israeli government or AIPAC and that Rosen and Weissman "put their own interests and views of American foreign policy ahead of America's national security."
The indictments revealed that the investigation goes back further than first thought and that American government officials also were investigated. The probe went back to 1999 and concerned information on Iran and terrorist attacks in several countries, including Saudi Arabia. Rosen and Weissman are charged with exchanging information with three American officials and three workers at the Israeli Embassy.
Rosen allegedly revealed to the media classified information on American Middle East strategy in 2000 and relayed information to AIPAC on the Al Qaeda terrorist network two years later. One of the three unidentified government officials who received information in the case was recently appointed by President George W. Bush to a senior position.
It previously was reported that the only people investigated were Rosen, Weissman, former Pentagon Iran analyst Larry Franklin, who has already been indicted, and Israeli diplomat Naor Gilon.
A leader of American Jewish organizations expressed concern that the government indicted the former AIPAC employees but not the government officials involved in the case. "They should be going after all the guys who gave the information," said Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice-president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The charges are different from passing classified information to another nation, for which Jonathan Pollard was convicted 20 years ago, after a plea bargain, but given the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.