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Mistaken identity

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Freelance journalist Alon Tuval has the misfortune of looking a lot like one of the suspects in the Dubai case. He says even friends are mistaking him for one of those involved. He’s in Jerusalem now. Katy Clark checks in with him.

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KATY CLARK:  Freelance journalist Alon Tuval has the misfortune of looking a lot like one of the suspects in the Dubai case.  Alon says even friends are mistaking him for one of those involved.  He’s in Jerusalem now and how have you been mistaken for one of the agents?

ALON TUVAL:  Well I got a call from one of my friends who has a business downtown and he said hey when are you coming to see me?  You are like my hero.  And it was like a bit disconcerting when he said to me look at picture number ten.  So I told him it wasn’t and that I wasn’t in Dubai.  He said listen, it’s your picture, no way around it.  And then I got an SMS from another person I know and then our babysitter stepped into our house and told me that hey, we’re very proud of you.  And I never got on a plane.

CLARK: When you look at the picture do you see the resemblance?

TUVAL: Oh yes.

CLARK: Is it a little freaky?

TUVAL: It’s more than freaky.  I mean, at first I shook it off as you know, it’s a joke, I am a regular Joe.

CLARK: Well I understand you have to go to Jordan on Monday, are you worried?  Are you taking any precautions?

TUVAL: I’m not really worried because I’m going to Jordan for work.  I have to meet a person and it’s only for a couple of hours.  So I’ll be detained, okay, the Jordanians I guess will feed me and then be quite accommodating.  And besides, it could be an interesting adventure.  I carry quite a large sum in life insurance, so my wife would be happy.

CLARK: Well, good luck to you.  Freelance journalist Alon Tuval, thanks for joining us.

TUVAL: My pleasure.  Thank you for having me.

CLARK: So, does Alon Tuval look like one of the agents?  Well, you can judge for yourself.  We’ve got pictures of them both at the world dot org.

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