Jerusalem - Israel declined on Friday to make a public apology demanded by Wellington after two members of the Jewish state's Mossad intelligence agency were convicted of trying to fraudulently obtain a New Zealand passport.
"We will not make public statements beyond those (made) on the subject by the foreign minister," a spokesperson for the ministry said.
Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom said on Thursday he "regretted" that New Zealand suspended high-level contacts with Israel after the two alleged spies were sentenced to six years in prison.
"Of course, we regret this response, but we think this decision is a decision that can be fixed," Shalom said. "We will do everything necessary - together with the New Zealand government - to restore relations."
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Shalom's statement did not go far enough, and announced that she would stop a planned visit by Israeli President Moshe Katsav in August and impose other diplomatic sanctions until she received a formal apology from Israel.
She also said Israeli officials would henceforth need a visa to enter New Zealand.
Uriel Zoshe Kelman and Eli Cara, arrested on March 23 after police tailed them, pleaded guilty last month to several charges including trying to obtain a New Zealand visa fraudulently and taking part in an organised crime syndicate with the aim of obtaining a fake passport.
