Australian Jews call expulsion of Israeli diplomat an 'overreaction'
Canberra announced decision after saying it had 'no doubt' of Mossad's role in killing Mabhouh in Dubai in January.
Tags: Israel news Dubai assassination
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Suspects in Dubai assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh |
Jewish leaders in Australia have slammed their government for its "overreaction" in expelling an Israeli diplomat over the Mossad's alleged role in the assassination of a Hamas operative in Dubai, local media reported.
Australia announced on Monday that it intended to expel the diplomat as a result of its investigation into the use of forged Australian passports during the alleged assassination of senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January.
The probe revealed that four of the suspects had carried forged Australian passports. Australia initiated an investigation with the participation of the federal police, the relevant ministries and the country's internal security and intelligence service.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told parliament that police investigators had traveled to Israel from Australia and presented him with a report on the matter on April 9. The police report was not unequivocal as to Israel's involvement in forging the passports, and the country's two intelligence services were asked to offer an opinion.
"We consider that decision to be an over-reaction," Robert Goot, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said in a statement carried by the Sydney Morning Herald late Monday.
Goot added that despite Smith's declaration that Canberra had "no doubt" of Israel's involvement in the killing, he had offered no proof to back up the diplomatic move.
Goot warned that the action could serve as a boon for Israel's critics and enemies.
"Little good can come from taking punitive action in relation to this matter against Israel, which is the Middle East's only stable democracy and the only Middle Eastern country that can be relied on to act resolutely against international terrorism," Goot said.
The executive director of the Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, Colin Rubenstein, characterized the government's decision as "unhelpful" and pre-emptive.
"We would note in this regard, while Australia followed a British precedent in its over-reaction, no similar step has been taken by Ireland, France, or Germany, all of whom also allegedly had forged passports implicated in the killing," he said.
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It is worthy to note that not one of the comments on this site acknowledges that there is still no viable proof that it was indeed the Mossad that committed the crime. Why so quick to condemn the Israelis? Certainly conjecture and bias are at hand. Innocent before proven guilty... is that a truism in Australian justic?
Shame on you, my Australian sisters and brothers! You just demonstrated that Australian and International law is nothing worth in your eyes. Mossad is well known - and officially admitted a few many times by Mossad itself - as using the best and worst criminal methods with disregard of all laws in the world against friends, allies, enemies and own relatives. But you're right: they diudn't kill any Australian - this time -, they only stole their passports. This is clearly OVERREACTION! Ha-ha-ha, you have no shame left, dear Jewish Community of Australia!
It is about time people stopped acting stupid. What do they think happens in the world of espionage? Do they think that spied just go into foreign countries with real passports so that that country can track them down? Do they think that spies just ask a government for the secret information that their country wants, or do they think they act illegally in order to obtain the information, There is no doubt that Australia does it, as the Australian Shadow Foreign Minister said. So the question then must be asked, if Israel did do it, was it against Australian interests for the terrorist to be killed. The plain answer is no. He was a terrorist, since Hamas is recognized by Australia as a terrorist organization. Come on people, wake up!
An Australian passport will get you into almost every country on the planet. If Asio wanted to forge a passport, they'd issue a real passport to a well prepared fake Australian identity very likely already 'existing' on standby in the system.
Why is it an over reaction ?
Simple resolution: Isreal can deny any involvement in the assassination.
The very definition of chutzpah, you forge another nations identity papers, use them to carry out an assassination in a third country and then cry over-reaction when the government you forged the documents of expels your diplomat. What would be Israel's reaction if the Iranian Embassy issued Australian passports to carry out an assassination in Israel?
You other article says most of what needs to be said: "Dubai passports row / It takes a special talent to turn Australia against Israel" Just so.
I would like to know if mr goot is an australian or an israeli? because it seems from his comments that hes an israeli.. if these crimes were done by any other country then the reaction would have been worse yet, Mr goot is still complaining.. wht a world we live in.. wake up australia!
This is what they deserve by misusing the Australian passports. They deserve much more than this and Australia should think closing the ties with Israel unless the apologies.
To knowingly involve the innocent citizens of Australia in a cold blooded murder in a foreign state, is a serious crime against your country Mr Goot. You do consider Australia your country, do you?
No one has a God given right to fake a passport. There are consequences.
Some are uncomfortable with people who are more concerned with another country's interests than with those of their own country.
For political purposes. Everyone knows that all countries conduct espionage activities with false passports, including Australia. I want to know what happened the the woman who left on a ship to Iran and what passport she used.