Israel set to pay ‘Prisoner X’ kin to avoid court action

In a bid to avoid disclosuresthreatening national security, Israel will pay over $1 million as compensation to the family of an alleged Australia- born Mossad spy, who hanged himself in a prison in 2010.

In a bid to avoid disclosuresthreatening national security, Israel will pay over $1 million as compensation to the family of an alleged Australia- born Mossad spy, who hanged himself in a prison in 2010.

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Ben Zygier, the so-called ‘Prisoner X’, was facing at least 10 years in prison for treason. He was found hanged in his isolation cell in Ayalon prison near Tel Aviv in December 2010.

“After negotiations, the two parties have reached an agreement whereby the state will pay $1.1 million to the deceased’s family,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The family of Zygier, who held Israeli and Australian citizenships, had accused Israel of negligence in dealing with his case. An Israeli inquiry reported in April that Zygier, was not adequately supervised by prison authorities when he hanged himself, shortly after a visit from his wife. The justice ministry statement stressed that the deal with Zygier’s family was not an “admission of alleged wrongdoing.” PTI