Australia to expel Israeli diplomat over Mabhouh assassination

Stephen Smith

By IAN ALLEN | intelNews.org |
Australia has announced that it plans to expel an Israeli diplomat from the country, in connection with forged Australian passports that were used by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. At least four Australian passports were among several Western passports employed by Mossad agents in targeting Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was assassinated in a luxury Dubai hotel last January. But the Australian government has said it will delay the planned diplomatic expulsion until it has “further advice” about the case from the country’s intelligence authorities. An investigation by the Australian Federal Police, which was completed last week, appears to have failed to yield enough answers. Australian minister of foreign affairs, Stephen Smith, has thus announced that the government will hand over the investigation to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and will await its conclusion before it “the government’s decision about these matters be[comes] known publicly”. Late last month, Britain announced the pending expulsion of an Israeli diplomat over al-Mabhouh’s killing. At least 12 forged British passports were used by a the Mossad hit squad in Dubai.