Tension mounts between U.K. and Israel over the killing of Al-Mabhouh
Tension mounts between U.K. and Israel over the killing of Al-Mabhouh
The statements of Dubai’s Police Chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim have come to enforce speculation. Khalfan declared that he was 99% sure that the Israeli Mossad has had a role in the planning of Al Mabhouh’s murder. Dubai police had previously released images of eleven suspects, nine of which carried British passports. Consequently, the UK foreign office has contacted the British suspects to follow up on the incident and ensure the welfare of its nationals. In addition, an investigation was initiated by Britain’s Serious Organized Crime Agency. The agency announced that the photographs and signatures on the passports used in Dubai do not match those on passports issued by the UK.
As a result, U.K’s foreign secretary David Milliband called the Israeli ambassador to discuss the usage of British passports in the murder case. “Any interference with British passports is an outrage”, confirmed Milliband before announcing that he is due to hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Brussels on February 22.
Nonetheless, Milliband refused to comment on whether or not his country believes that Israeli Mossad was involved. Milliband has however criticized the policy of “targeted assassinations” in spite of his belief that Israel has the right to defend itself. Following the meeting, both Milliband and the Israeli ambassador refused to elaborate on what was discussed, but Milliband confirmed that his government is still pursuing concrete evidence of Israeli involvement.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview to Israeli Radio that “there is no reason to think that it was the Israeli Mossad and not a different security organization or security service from a different country that was involved”. Lieberman said that it was best to wait and see what the evidence will reveal, adding that countries have always had an interest in letting things blow over.
According to David Jeremy Bowen, BBC’s Middle East correspondent, if any evidence that Israel has used British passports “for some nefarious uses of its Mossad service” was found, the relations between the U.K. and Israel would sour direly. Bowen took previous incidents where Mossad misused Canadian and New Zealander passports as example.
Mahmoud Al Mabhouh arrived in Dubai on January 19 and was found dead on the next day, triggering a heated exchange of accusations between Israel and Hamas, and drawing international parties into the process.
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