UK expels Israeli diplomat over Dubai case

Britain expelled an Israeli diplomat on March 23 over the alleged use of forged U.K. passports in the assassination of a Hamas operative in a suspected Mossad hit.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband told lawmakers that the diplomat, who has not been named, was removed following an investigation into the use of 12 fake U.K. passports in the Jan. 20 slaying in Dubai.

He says a British investigation found there was “compelling reasons to believe that Israel was responsible” for the forged passports.

Dubai accuses Israel’s Mossad spy agency of killing Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. It has identified at least 26 suspects of an alleged hit squad who used forged European and Australian passports to enter the country. Israel has declined to comment.

Miliband said Israel’s actions had put British nationals at risk and showed a “profound disregard” for Britain’s sovereignty. He said the fact that Israel is a longtime ally with close business, personal and political ties to Britain “adds insult to injury” in this case. — ap