Israel reprimanded by Australia over alleged use of fake passports

Calcutta News.Net
Friday 26th February, 2010

Australia is the latest country to join the international condemnation of Israel’s possible abuse of foreign passports in the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai.

Australia summoned the Israeli ambassador and delivered a clear and austere warning on diplomatic relations after evidence increasingly began to point to the involvement of Mossad in the affair, which has had a high-profile and increasingly embarrassing international fallout for Israel.

“Australia will not be silent on the matter,” said Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, after Dubai Police named two men and one women holding allegedly fake Australian passports, among the 15 new suspects added to the investigation.

“If Australian passports are being used or forged by any state, let alone for the purpose of assassination, this is of the deepest concern and we are getting to the bottom of this now,” Rudd said to the ABC, the public broadcaster of Australia. “We will not leave a single stone unturned.”

Dubai Police have said they strongly suspect the involvement of Mossad, the secretive spy wing of the Israeli military, in the assassination of Mabhuh at a luxury hotel in Dubai on January 20th.

It is alleged that Israel also illegally used fake passports of several other countries including the UK, France, Canada and Ireland.

"The new list of suspects includes people who offered prior logistical support and preparations to facilitate the crime, and others who played a central role," the Dubai Police said in a statement.

Australia’s Foreign Minister has said he expects Israel to cooperate fully in the now-international investigation into the Cold War-style assassination.

Dubai Police have also announced that they now have DNA proof of who at least one of the killers were.

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