UK expels Israeli diplomat over forgery

LONDON – Britain took the extraordinary step on Tuesday of expelling an Israeli diplomat for the first time in more than 20 years, after concluding there was compelling evidence that Israel was responsible for the use of forged British passports in the plot to slay a senior Hamas operative in Dubai.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said trust between the two countries had been badly dented, demanded formal assurances it never happen again and – in an unusual step – issued travel advice to UK citizens warning their identity details may be at risk if they visit Israel.Miliband told the House of Commons that the expelled diplomat, who has not been named, was removed following an investigation into the use of 12 fake United Kingdom passports in the January 20 slaying in Dubai.’We have concluded that there are compelling reasons to believe that Israel was responsible for the misuse of the British passports,’ Miliband said.Britain’s Serious and Organised Crime Agency found the forged British passports were copies of authentic documents handed to Israeli officials for inspection either in Israel or other countries, Miliband said. He said the fakes were high-quality and almost certainly ‘made by a state intelligence service.’’The actions in this case are completely unacceptable and they must stop,’ Miliband said.However, Miliband insisted Britain has drawn no conclusions over who is responsible for the killing of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, saying investigation by Dubai authorities was continuing.Dubai authorities accuse Israel’s Mossad of carrying out al-Mabhouh’s killing in a luxury hotel room, and have identified at least 26 suspects in an alleged hit squad – members of which used forged European and Australian passports.Interpol has a wanted list of 27 people in connection with the slaying. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in al-Mabhouh’s death.The expulsion of an Israeli diplomat from London is the first since 1988, when attache Arie Regev was removed for ‘activities incompatible with diplomatic duties,’ a euphemism for espionage. Britain also barred a second Israeli, Jacob Barad, from returning to Britain in 1987. Both men were suspected of coordinating Mossad activity in the UK and of involvement in the forgery of British passports.At the time, Shimon Peres – now Israel’s president – promised Britain it would never again forge British documents. – Nampa-AP