Israel Downplays Fake Passport Row with Europe

Israel plays down the diplomatic row shrouding the terror of Hamas commander Mahmud al-Mabhouh in Dubai which is largely blamed on the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad.

"It is important to note that no one accuses Israel, there is no proof linking Israel to this affair," AFP quoted a senior Israeli official who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier this week Dubai police issued arrest warrants for 11 members of a suspected hit squad who carried British, Irish, French and German passports.

The identities of the terror team, including 10 men and a woman, were later scrapped as officials in all but one of the European states denied involvement of their citizens in the terror plot.

Britain and Ireland expressed concern over what they called an identity theft despite Dubai officials’ insistence that they could prove the documents were not fake.

Britain’s Foreign Office has called in Israel’s ambassador over the issue, but the Israeli official stressed that the British authorities "have not summoned the ambassador but invited him for a discussion," claiming that it was a further proof that Britain wanted to make it clear "there is no crisis."

But Ireland seemed to be more concerned over the use of fake Irish passports by alleged killers and summoned the Israeli ambassador to Dublin over what Foreign Minister Micheal Martin called "an extremely serious incident."

"We are putting pretty direct questions and seeking assistance and clarification. We want to get answers as quickly as we possibly can," he added, saying the incident jeopardized the security of Irish citizens.

The 11 terror suspects the Dubai police are seeking include six from Britain, three from Ireland, one from Germany and one from France.

Using fake foreign passports has been described as a signature of Mossad terror operations overseas.

(Press TV)

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