five arms dealers were deported from Bermuda illegally in 1986.

The claims were made in the new book "Profits of War'' by Mr. Ari Ben-Menashe, an ex-officer of the Israeli Intelligence Service, Mossad.

Mr. Ben-Menashe alleges the five were "hustled, against Bermudian law, onto a plane to New York'' -- even though a court hearing was scheduled.

He adds: "On arrival at Kennedy Airport they were all arrested by Customs officials.'' But yesterday Mr. Froomkin, Attorney General at the time of the deportation, lashed back at the claims.

"The men were deported in accordance with Bermudian law, and after court hearings.

"It is absolute rubbish to say otherwise. I am completely satisfied everything was done legally.'' Mr. Froomkin said, as he recalled, the arms dealers were deported for a breach of Bermuda's Immigration and Protection Act.

"I believe it was because they had made false representations about the purpose of their visit to Bermuda.'' Mr. Froomkin recalled documents and paperwork were found on the men -- contradicting claims they were just visitors.

The five deported men were retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Avraham Bar-Am, American lawyer Mr. Samuel Evans, US-Israeli Mr. William Northrop and Israeli arms dealers Mr. Guriel and Mr. Israel Eisenberg.

Mr. Ben-Menashe's book alleges the five were enticed into smuggling arms to Iran -- supposedly with the secret backing of both the Israeli Intelligence Service and the United States government.

The man who lured them into the deal was Iranian emigre Mr. Cyrus Hashemi, an informant for the US Customs service, the book claims.

Mr. Hashemi is said to have been promised acquittal of arms smuggling charges in return for his services.

Once the deal was set up, the US Government pounced, and the men were arrested, Mr. Ben-Menashe alleges.

The book claims the US Government entrapped the men -- and many others -- to divert attention from its illicit arms-for-hostages deal with Iran, a central part of the Iran-Contra scandal.

It was also designed to close down the Israeli Intelligence Service's arms sales channel to Iran.

Mr. Ben-Menashe claims it was this which spurred the Israeli Intelligence into exposing the Iran-Contra scandal.