2010 that Israel had detained a dual Australian-Israeli citizen. The advice, through "intelligence channels", included the prisoner's name, and the allegation of "serious offences" under Israel's national security laws. The Australian Government received assurances from Israel regarding the individual's legal rights, his own choice for legal representation, notification of family members, his treatment whilst detained, and respect of his rights as an Israeli citizen. There was no request for consular assistance from either the individual or family members. On 16 December 2010 the government was advised through "intelligence channels" that the individual had died the previous day, and his family had been contacted by the authorities in Israel. The Australian embassy in Tel Aviv assisted in repatriating the body to Australia. Although some Australian officials were aware of the detention, it is unclear how widespread this knowledge was. The information was not shared throughout the Foreign Affairs Department, according to Secretary Peter Varghese. Former attorney-general Robert McClelland was informed by ASIO on 1 March 2010 of Israel's detention of an unnamed dual citizen on security grounds, and said he authorised ASIO to brief other unspecified persons. The West Australian'''s federal political editor, Andrew Probyn commented that the Varghese report "exposes serial bureaucratic arse-covering in its contents, chronology and conclusions", and that "key government and agency personnel seemed to know all about the case but not know about it at the same time. Representatives of the Australian Jewish community have kept quiet about the affair. Reasons they cited included fear of bringing up dual loyalty accusations and respecting the privacy of the Zygier family. See also Prisoner X2 Lavon Affair – A previous secret Israeli Prisoner X, Avri Elad, from the Lavon Affair was detained at the Ayalon Prison in 1954, released in 1968, and died in self-exile in Los Angeles 1993. Death of Tomer Eiges Censorship in Israel Human rights in Israel References External links "Justizskandal in Israel: Staatsgeheimnis um den Gefangenen X", Ulrike Putz, Der Spiegel, 24 June 2010 "Mystery: Who is Prisoner X, and who censors Ynet?", The Pulse'' Walls without hope – the toughest prisons in Israel, mako 1976 births 2010 suicides Australian emigrants to Israel Australian Jews 21st-century Israeli lawyers Australian people imprisoned abroad Censorship in Israel Espionage scandals and incidents Israeli Jews Israeli people of Australian-Jewish descent Ayalon Prison inmates People from Melbourne People of the Mossad Prisoners who died in Israeli detention Australia–Israel relations