No, not a figurative vulture. A real vulture.
The Telegraph reports:
Saudi Arabian security services have captured a vulture that is suspected of being a Mossad spy sent over by Israel to gather information about the country.
The large bird, which was carrying a GPS transmitter and a tag bearing the identification code R65 from Tel Aviv University, strayed into rural Saudi Arabian territory at some point last week, according to a report in the Israeli daily Ma’ariv.
Residents and local reporters told Saudi Arabia’s Al-Weeam newspaper that the matter seemed to be linked to a “Zionist plot” and swiftly alerted security services. The bird has since been placed under arrest.
Yes, that’s what it says. The bird has been placed under arrest. I hope the Saudi authorities at least allowed it to make a phone call and consult with an attorney.
The Israeli authorities said the bird’s activities were much more innocent and that it was in fact part of a long-term academic study of the migratory habits of the vulture.
They would say that, wouldn’t they?
Anyway we can only demand that the vulture receives a fair trial.
(Hat tip: Mark T)