Minto claims Israeli web attacks

Veteran protester John Minto claims the Israeli military has been launching cyber attacks on Kiwi websites.

Mr Minto said his personal website, which featured articles on Gaza, had been "downed", a Peace Movement Aotearoa newsletter affected and Flashback pages of local supporters removed.

"This is most likely the work of a dedicated unit within the Israeli military which monitors and does its best to close down sites which are effective in organising opposition to Israeli policies."

A Security Intelligence Service spokesman said yesterday it "really didn't have any comment to make".

Mr Minto said the Global Peace and Justice website had been down much of this week, along with several other sites that had material "attacking and organising against the massacre in Gaza".

"Groups overseas have had similar experiences, with the London-based anti-war website attacked last week."

The manager of the Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Jonathon Berry, said the agency, which is part of the Government Communications Security Bureau, was not aware of a dedicated cyber attack unit within the Israeli military.

"We have not received any reports of attacks on New Zealand's Critical National Infrastructure."

Alleged Israel spies Eli Cara and Uri Kelman were jailed for six months in July 2004 for passport fraud, but freed in September and sent back to Israel.

Israel apologised but stopped short of admitting the men were spies.