Australia moves to expel Israeli diplomat over forged passports used in Dubai slaying

Australia moves to expel Israeli diplomat

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia ordered the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat Monday after investigators concluded Israel was responsible for forging four Australian passports that were used in the slaying of a Hamas operative in Dubai.

Australia’s reaction echoes that of the United Kingdom, which in March expelled a diplomat in retaliation for the use of 12 fake British passports in the plot to kill Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Dubai authorities blame Israel’s Mossad intelligence service for the January slaying.

The governments of Ireland, Germany and France have yet to state how they will react to similar cases of alleged identity fraud against its citizens, as revealed in the investigation.

Australia had not expelled a foreign diplomat since 2004.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told Parliament that the operation to kill Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel room was not the first time Israel had forged Australian travel documents. He did not elaborate on previous incidents, but said the latest transgression breached “confidential undertakings” between the two countries that have stood for several years.

“These are not the actions of a friend,” he said. “This is not what we expect from a nation with whom we have had such a close, friendly and supportive relationship.”

Smith said Israel had been asked to withdraw a diplomat, whom he did not identify, within a week. The duration of the expulsion was indefinite.

The Israeli Embassy said it would issue a statement later Monday. Israeli ambassador Yuval Rotem is out of the country until early next month.

Australia had notified the United States of its decision because of Canberra’s security alliance with Washington and Washington’s close friendship with Tel Aviv, Smith said.

Australia had also notified the United Arab Emirates and all the countries whose nationals claimed to have identities stolen in the case. Smith said Australian cooperation with Israel on security and intelligence matters would suffer.

“Clearly as a result of today’s events, there will be something of a cooling period so far as relevant agencies are concerned and, just as in the United Kingdom, time will tell just how long that may or may not be,” Smith said.

Israel had not retaliated against Britain’s expulsion of a diplomat and Smith said he would be disappointed if Israel retaliated against Australia’s decision.

Dubai authorities have identified at least 26 suspects from an alleged hit squad.

Smith said: “The high quality of these counterfeited passports points to the involvement of a state intelligence service.”

He said Australia’s investigation by police and intelligence services “left the government in no doubt that Israel was responsible for the abuse and counterfeiting of these passports.”