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Israeli spies threaten strike

Sources in Mossad told Israeli Radio they were "angry and greatly frustrated" that Mr Bental was handed over by Israel for the trial in Switzerland.

The agents say they expect to receive the full backing of the Mossad leadership, even if the missions they are assigned fail.

Apart from wiretapping, the charges against Mr Bental include entering the country using genuine papers with false names, political espionage and carrying out illegal acts for a foreign state.

Target testifies

The target of the bungled operation, a Swiss citizen of Lebanese origin named Abdallah el-Zein, testified on Tuesday that he and the Islamic centre he managed in Berne had no connection to Hezbollah.

Mr Zein, who is currently a car salesman, was asked in court whether he could shed any light on anti-Jewish attacks such as the July 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre in Argentina that killed 86 people.

He denied any knowledge of the attack.

Mr Bental has already pleaded guilty to charges of installing an illegal listening device.

A verdict in the trial is expected on Friday.

Mossad's reputation plummets

The Swiss debacle is the latest in a series of bungled operations in recent years to tarnish the reputation of Mossad, once seen as a ruthless and highly efficient secret service.

Most notably, in 1997 the agency failed in an attempt to assassinate the head of the Hamas movement in Jordan, leading to tension between Jordan and Israel three years after they signed a peace deal.

Danny Yaton, the former Mossad chief, was forced to resign when the failed Swiss operation came to light.