PakSher
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Sydney, Australia (CNN) -- Australia has called for the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat after it said an investigation confirmed that Israeli agents were behind the forgery of four Australian passports used in the assassination of a Hamas operative in the United Arab Emirates.
"It is beyond doubt that the Israeli government is responsible for cloning and counterfeiting these passports," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Monday.
Smith did not elaborate on whom Australia wanted expelled from the Israeli diplomatic mission in Canberra. But he said that the decision was made after consultation with the British, U.S. and United Arab Emirates foreign ministries.
Smith said the investigation has found that the four Australians whose passports were used were innocent victims of passport fraud, and had nothing to do with the January 20 killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a founding member of Hamas' military wing.
Smith added that while Australia and Israel enjoy good relations, the forgery was not the action of a friend.
Australia wants Israeli diplomat expelled - CNN.com
"It is beyond doubt that the Israeli government is responsible for cloning and counterfeiting these passports," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Monday.
Smith did not elaborate on whom Australia wanted expelled from the Israeli diplomatic mission in Canberra. But he said that the decision was made after consultation with the British, U.S. and United Arab Emirates foreign ministries.
Smith said the investigation has found that the four Australians whose passports were used were innocent victims of passport fraud, and had nothing to do with the January 20 killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a founding member of Hamas' military wing.
Smith added that while Australia and Israel enjoy good relations, the forgery was not the action of a friend.
Australia wants Israeli diplomat expelled - CNN.com