Israelis plead guilty in New Zealand

sydney (jta) | Two Israelis accused of being Mossad agents pleaded guilty to unlawfully attempting to obtain New Zealand passports.

Justice Judith Potter of Auckland’s High Court kept Uriel Kelman, 30, and Elisha Cara, 50, in custody.

Cara and Kelman were arrested four months ago following a foiled bid to obtain New Zealand passports, using details of a critically ill man suffering from cerebral palsy.

2 Jews attacked in Belgium

antwerp (jta) | Two Jewish men were attacked in separate incidents near Antwerp on July 1.

Stones and bottles were hurled at a Jewish cyclist in the suburb of Berchem by a group of around 15 youths, the daily Le Soir reported. The man was lightly injured.

In another part of the city, a middle-aged Jewish man was hospitalized after he was attacked and beaten.

The attacks bring to six the number of violent assaults on Jewish targets in the Antwerp region recently, including the stabbing of a yeshiva student.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt promised Jewish community leaders that security would be stepped up around Jewish institutions.