Alleged Mossad agent fights extradition to Germany
Uri Brodsky, suspected of involvement in Hamas chief killing in Dubai, appeals Polish court decision that he be extradited to Germany.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel news Germany Poland Dubai assassinationUri Brodsky, an alleged Mossad agent under arrest in Poland, on Monday appealed a Polish court's decision to extradite him to Germany.
Brodsky is wanted in Germany for allegedly spying and helping to falsely obtain a German passport allegedly used in connection with the assassination of the Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Manhouh in a Dubai hotel in January.
He was arrested on a European warrant in June at Warsaw's international airport, and on July 7 was ordered extradited to Germany by Warsaw's district court. The judge ordered his extradition on the forgery charges only, however, meaning that under that decision he could also only be tried in Germany on forgery and not spying.
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Alleged Mossad agent known as Uri Brodsky, center, being escorted by armed Polish anti-terrorist police officers to court in Warsaw, July 7, 2010. |
| Photo by: AFP |
That decision would have spared Israel a potentially embarrassing high-profile espionage trial. Now the outcome of the case remains unclear because both Brodsky's lawyers and prosecutors - who want him extradited on the entirety of the charges - have appealed the court's July 7 ruling.
One of Brodsky's lawyers, Krzysztof Stepinski, said he filed an appeal Monday in a bid to have his client spared extradition to Germany and have him returned to Israel.
"I believe we will win. I strongly believe that he will be (sent) back to Israel," Stepinski told The Associated Press. He refused to divulge the argument that he was using in his fight against the extradition.
Warsaw prosecutors also appealed the decision last week, said Monika Lewandowska, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors. She said prosecutors disagree with the district court's decision to extradite Brodsky on only part of the charges brought against him by Germany.
Brodsky's case will be heard by the appeals court on August 5, Stepinski said.
After the slaying of the Hamas leader in January, suspicion immediately fell on Mossad, Israel's spy agency. Israel, however, has never commented on the killing and has refused comment on Brodsky. The Israeli Ambassador to Poland Zvi Rav-Ner told the AP only that his embassy is offering its consular support to Brodsky.
In two court appearances in Warsaw to date, Brodsky concealed his appearance, pulling a hooded jacket around his face as much as possible and covering the rest with his hands. It's also not clear if Brodsky is his real name.
Police in the United Arab Emirates said the elaborate hit squad linked to the Jan. 19 slaying of al-Mabhouh - one of the founders of Hamas' military wing - involved some 25 suspects, most of them carrying fake passports from European nations and Australia.
Among the faked passports, according to Dubai police, was one issued by the German city of Cologne with Brodsky's alleged involvement. Der Spiegel, a German weekly magazine, says the passport was issued to a man named Michael Bodenheimer, the descendent of a German Jew living in Israel.
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Committed a crime? Well, get a trial and probably punished. An Israeli punished in Germany? Well, if he/she committed a crime to that country,... OF COURSE! Israel should be treated as any other democracy, equally.
I do not have a problem of Mossad or any other western intelligence agents hunting down murderous terrorists any how any where any time and should have immunity from prosecution if caught. This should be part of Israel's alligence with allied nations and their intelligence bureaus. Poland and Germany should had kept this out of the media and sent the gentleman home with a bravery award for keeping us just that little tiny bit safer from terrorism. I've got a feeling Uri Brodsky will get off lightly and deported back to Israel.
Remember when Netanyahu released Sheikh Yassin from prison? Mossad fouled up in an assassination attempt of Meshal in Jordan, Mossad agents were caught and threatened with imprisonment unless Yassin is released (and Meshal revived). Yassin was the most senior Hamas prisoner ever, and Netanyahu released him to clean up his own mess. Now, Shalit is also a French citizen, so an EU citizen. What would be more natural than for Germany (with Polish assistance) to demand that Netanyahu release the senior prisoners Hamas wants for Shalit, in return for the Mossad agent Brodsky? Yahu did it before, he'll do it again to clean up his own mess. I suggest the family contact Sarkozy about this idea. It may seem unfair to Brodsky, but the fact is that he actually violated German law while Gilad Shalit did nothing wrong. Moreover, Shalit sat already in his "prison" for 4 years, so let Brodsky sit until Netanyahu gets interested.
We are tough, but we are not all Rambos.
Yawn. Reruns.
Poland was never been a co-conspirator with Germany. Your statement demonstrates an unfounded prejudice rather than dealing with the facts. Justice comes from applying the rule of law rather than harboring prejudices for decades.
perhaps if he is returned to Israel Mossad will do a number on him before he gets there. Doesnt want him to speak too publically. What do you think, dissen? Are you ok with that?
No, I dont think you understand everything. Poles are sending a Mossad killer to Germany. As you might know it not legal to kill someone.
The Pan-Am bomber responsible for deaths over Lockerbie, Scoptland was released from jail and sent back to Libya. He was released for humanitarian reasons. He has cancer. Yet after many months it has come to light that he does not have cancer. It was a ruse to get him released from jail. A ruse that had BP Oil Co. able to get lucrative oil drilling contracts within Lybian territory. We live in a scummy world controlled by big business. Get used to it and stop blaming Israel for all the woes of the world.
to face Israeli justice for crimes committed outside Israel No other citizen of Planet Earth would be allowed to commit crimes in another country then face trial in their home country. This really is taking the Goy in the Goyim bullcrap a bit to far. Besides if that is Uri Brodsky's defence then he is going to Germany.
Isn't that the same "crime"? And isn't it in "another country" from their own?
which has the authorisation of the United Nations. uri Brodsky falsified the passport of a third country for the purposes of murder. Hardly the same thing.
Uri Brodsky should be tried on the charges that he faces. That is what happens in a democratic country's legal processes. Uri Brodsky cannot be allowed to be flown to Israel as if nothing has happened. I am sure if Israel found a German forging Israeli travel docu,ents he wouldn't be given a slap on the wrist and sent on his way.
I am an European and I am not insulted by Mosad, actualy I am greatful for Mosad fighting the war on terror on also our behalf.
the remains that mossad has little regard for the world (and it is reciprocated on many levels) that they would use European passport that then dirty our citizens within their fight with the Islamic world - how is an irish or german or australian citizen to be viewed now? Just because Israelis cannot travel anywhere with their own passport for risk of being persecuted, killed or spat at, does not mean that they should then bring all of us down to your level. This man should be prosecuted and set to prison where many Turkish Muslim in German jails can give him a hero's welcome. These people treat Israel as a safe have for global misdeeds, indeed, a den of vipers, a cancer on the world.
It would be a bit hypocritical to get upset about one of their allies catching one of their joint enemies.
Allies in what? Were the governments asked to use their passports? Or was a flagrant disregard to nationalities in Europe and elsewhere that has brought us to this? Israel is no ally of Europe - this is for sure.
Israel has proven time and time again that they are not to be trusted by any stretch of the imagination. They continue to violate international law on a daily basis, use my weapons and money to commit crimes against Humanity, execute ethnic cleansing programs, and continue to spy on us. Hell, they committed an act of terrorism against my country when they destroyed the Liberty. We should have cut of all ties to the rogue nation right then and there.
THey mean send him back to Israel to give him a Hero's welcome.
THey mean send him back to Israel to give him a Hero's welcome.
...that Mr. Brodsky has been advised by his lawyers--or others--to buy himself some time. (Lawyers tend to do this automatically, and as for any "others" (should they be in the mix)--who knows?)
Have an Israeli agent stand trial in an Israeli court for a crime he was ordered to commit by the Israel government