Israeli diplomat to be expelled over fake passports for killers

AUSTRALIA ordered the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat yesterday, after investigators concluded Israel was responsible for forging four Australian passports that were used in the killing of a Hamas operative in Dubai.

The move echoes a similar action by Britain, 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 killing.

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 Dubai 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."

Mr 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.

Israeli radio stations have reported the diplomats expelled from Australia and Britain were Mossad representatives.

"We regret this decision by the Australian government," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said. "It is not in line with the importance and the quality of the relationship between our countries."

Mr Smith said Australian cooperation with Israel on security and intelligence 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," he said.

Mr 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."