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Australia Expels Israeli Official Over Dubai Killing
By JACK HEALY
Published: May 24, 2010
The diplomatic fallout from the killing of a Hamas operative in his Dubai hotel room expanded Monday as Australia became the latest country to expel an Israeli official, saying that Israel had played a role in falsifying passports used by suspected members of the assassination team.
Meanwhile, police officers investigating the killing of the Hamas official, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, issued an arrest warrant for a 62-year-old British man. He appears to be the first suspect to be publicly identified by his real name, rather than an alias.
Interpol identified the latest suspect as Christopher Lockwood of Scotland, and said he was wanted in Dubai for crimes against life and health, but did not provide any details on how he had been involved. Police in Dubai could not immediately be reached for comment.
Police officials in Dubai have released photographs of more than two dozen people said to be connected to Mr. Mabhouhs killing, but they have so far named only the suspects using the aliases that were on the forged passports that allowed the assassins and their accomplices to slip out of Dubai after the Jan. 19 killing.
The use of forged passports from Britain, Ireland, Australia and other countries has strained relations between Israel and several of its allies. Israels Mossad intelligence service is widely believed to be behind the assassination of Mr. Mabhouh, a founder of Hamass military wing.
Investigators trying to unravel his killing have released surveillance video showing suspected members of the assassination team in wigs and fake beards trailing Mr. Mabhouh through the hotel. Dubai police officials said he was drugged and suffocated.
Israel has not admitted any involvement in the killing. The case has thrown an unwelcome spotlight on Israels covert operations, and several countries have condemned the discovery of the counterfeit passports, which in some cases were taken from dual citizens living in Israel.
European officials have denounced the use of falsified passports in the killing, and Britain in March expelled an Israeli diplomat in a rare rebuke to Israel.
On Monday, Australias foreign minister, Stephen Smith, told Parliament that there was no doubt Israel was behind the passport forgeries, and said he had asked that a member of the Israeli Embassy in Canberra leave Australia within the week. The Haaretz newspaper said it had learned that the official to be withdrawn was the Mossad representative at the embassy.
These are not the actions of a friend, Mr. Smith said in remarks to Parliament. The government takes this step much more in sorrow than in anger or retaliation.
In Israel, reaction to Australias decision was muted, apparently reflecting a desire to move past the killing. Yigal Palmor, the spokesman for Israels Foreign Ministry, said, We regret the Australian measure, which does not reflect the quality and importance of the relationship between the two countries.
Australia Expels Israeli Official Over Dubai Killing - NYTimes.com
---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
The Govt is also considering some sanctions on Israel.
By JACK HEALY
Published: May 24, 2010
The diplomatic fallout from the killing of a Hamas operative in his Dubai hotel room expanded Monday as Australia became the latest country to expel an Israeli official, saying that Israel had played a role in falsifying passports used by suspected members of the assassination team.
Meanwhile, police officers investigating the killing of the Hamas official, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, issued an arrest warrant for a 62-year-old British man. He appears to be the first suspect to be publicly identified by his real name, rather than an alias.
Interpol identified the latest suspect as Christopher Lockwood of Scotland, and said he was wanted in Dubai for crimes against life and health, but did not provide any details on how he had been involved. Police in Dubai could not immediately be reached for comment.
Police officials in Dubai have released photographs of more than two dozen people said to be connected to Mr. Mabhouhs killing, but they have so far named only the suspects using the aliases that were on the forged passports that allowed the assassins and their accomplices to slip out of Dubai after the Jan. 19 killing.
The use of forged passports from Britain, Ireland, Australia and other countries has strained relations between Israel and several of its allies. Israels Mossad intelligence service is widely believed to be behind the assassination of Mr. Mabhouh, a founder of Hamass military wing.
Investigators trying to unravel his killing have released surveillance video showing suspected members of the assassination team in wigs and fake beards trailing Mr. Mabhouh through the hotel. Dubai police officials said he was drugged and suffocated.
Israel has not admitted any involvement in the killing. The case has thrown an unwelcome spotlight on Israels covert operations, and several countries have condemned the discovery of the counterfeit passports, which in some cases were taken from dual citizens living in Israel.
European officials have denounced the use of falsified passports in the killing, and Britain in March expelled an Israeli diplomat in a rare rebuke to Israel.
On Monday, Australias foreign minister, Stephen Smith, told Parliament that there was no doubt Israel was behind the passport forgeries, and said he had asked that a member of the Israeli Embassy in Canberra leave Australia within the week. The Haaretz newspaper said it had learned that the official to be withdrawn was the Mossad representative at the embassy.
These are not the actions of a friend, Mr. Smith said in remarks to Parliament. The government takes this step much more in sorrow than in anger or retaliation.
In Israel, reaction to Australias decision was muted, apparently reflecting a desire to move past the killing. Yigal Palmor, the spokesman for Israels Foreign Ministry, said, We regret the Australian measure, which does not reflect the quality and importance of the relationship between the two countries.
Australia Expels Israeli Official Over Dubai Killing - NYTimes.com
---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
The Govt is also considering some sanctions on Israel.
