Britain Expels Israeli Diplomat over Hamas Killing
Sonja Pace 23 March 2010
Britain says it is expelling an Israeli diplomat because of allegations that Israeli agents used fake British passports in the killing of a Palestinian militant in Dubai earlier this year.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced the expulsion in parliament Tuesday. He said the move was being taken after a thorough British investigation, and that Israeli participation in the forgeries was "highly likely."
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the claims. But Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor, speaking a short while after the expulsion announcement, said his country was disappointed with the British move.
In Jerusalem, Israeli lawmaker Arieh Eldad called the British move "hypocrisy." He said Britain has no right, in his words, "to intervene in.... Israel's war against terror."
Dubai has accused Israeli Mossad agents of killing Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh at a hotel in the emirate in January.
Authorities say the assassins entered Dubai using fake passports and stolen identities of British, Irish, French, German and Australian nationals.
Dubai investigators say the assassins, dressed in wigs and fake beards, stalked their target for hours on January 20 before injecting him with a muscle relaxant and suffocating him.
The International police agency Interpol has published a list of 27 people wanted by Dubai authorities in the killing. Israel has said there is no proof that it was involved.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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