FOREIGN Minister Bob Carr is asking Israel for some answers about the mysterious death of Prisoner X, believed to be an Australian man and suspected Mossad spy Ben Zygier.
Senator Carr says his department is compiling a report on the case and wants information from the Israeli government.
"We have asked the Israeli government for a contribution to that report," he told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
"We want to give them an opportunity to submit to us an explanation of how this tragic death came about."
Mr Zygier was arrested by Israeli authorities in February 2010 and was held in a maximum security cell under a false name until he died, apparently by his own hand, in December 2010.
It is believed Mr Zygier - also known as Ben Alon and Ben Allen - worked for Israeli spy agency Mossad and was in fact the shadowy figure known as Prisoner X.
Israel this week admitted for the first time it had held a man with dual citizenship under a false name for security reasons.
The Australian government's handling of the case has been criticised amid continuing confusion over who knew about his arrest and detention.
Australian spy agencies told the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) about Zygier's detention for alleged Israeli national security offences shortly after his arrest.
But it remains unclear whether officials passed on the news to then-prime minister Kevin Rudd or then-foreign minister Stephen Smith.
Mr Rudd, who said he was surprised to learn about the case this week, urged a "robust" response, even if Australia and Israel had shared very friendly relations for decades.
"I think we need to get to the bottom of this," he said on Sunday.
Mr Rudd said the government took such action in 2010 when it emerged Israel had used Australian passports in an operation to assassinate a Hamas operative in Dubai.
Senator Carr has ordered a review of the Zygier case to "satisfy" himself that enough is being done by Australian consular staff and to identify any potential areas for improvement.
It's not known when it will be completed but the report, being overseen by DFAT head Peter Varghese, will canvass all contact between Australia and Israel's consulates and security agencies.
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