US intelligence officer denies spying

Mattysse converted to an ultra-orthodox Jewish sect

A US military intelligence officer who was found in Israel after disappearing from his job is flying back to America.

A spokesman at the US embassy in Israel said Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Mattysse had decided to return voluntarily after speaking to senior officers at his base in Texas.

Before he boarded a plane, Colonel Mattyssee denied charges that he is a spy or that he has given classified information to the Israeli Government.

I'm on vacation here. I'm not a spy. I've given no classified information to anybody

Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Mattysse

The Israelis began looking for Colonel Mattysse - who commanded a unit that trains reservists for intelligence duties - at the request of the US, after the army declared him absent without leave more than two weeks ago.

Vacation

Colonel Mattysse - who recently converted to Judaism - caught a flight from Tel Aviv to New Jersey at 13:00 local time (10:00gmt).

But he dismissed allegations that he has been involved in spying activities. "First of all, I'm on vacation here," he told reporters.

"I'm not a spy. I've given no classified information to anybody."

Jeremiah Mattysse: Religious clue to disappearance

Ricky Niv, a woman with dual Israeli and US nationality, who said she was his girlfriend earlier reported that the officer had handed over sensitive documents during his time in Israel.

The officer was found in Israel's southern Negev desert on Monday and was questioned by Israeli police.

Investigation

The US army has refused to say whether or not the officer was under investigation for espionage.

But a spokesman at the US embassy in Israel told the Agence France Press news agency that American officials had held what he called an "informal and cordial" meeting with Mattysse on Monday night.

The spokesman said that at no time during his time in Israel had the colonel been under arrest.

Immigration bid

Israel's Interior Ministry confirmed reports that Colonel Mattysse filed a petition for immigrant status two weeks ago.

Jailed US spy Jonathan Pollard: Comparison dismissed as preposterous

The 50-year-old officer was declared absent without leave after he failed to return to his base near San Antonio, Texas on 7 August.

Ms Niv told Israel Radio that he had fled to Syria because he was being persecuted for his love of Israel.

"He left in disguise, wearing a wig, moustache and a beard," she said.

Israeli officials have dismissed the assertions and denied her implication that Colonel Mattysse had been spying for Israel.

They also said that any comparison between Colonel Mattysse and Jonathan Pollard, a US citizen serving a life sentence for spying for Israel, was "preposterous".