Report: U.S. companies transferred funds to suspects in Dubai hit
Assassins of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh may have exploited U.S. internet firms to mask funding for hit, Wall Street Journal reports.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Mahmoud al Mabhouh Dubai assassination Israel MossadInvestigators in the United States probing the assassination of a senior Hamas official have drawn links between U.S. companies and suspects in the case, bringing them closer to identifying them, according to an American press report Saturday.
The findings show U.S. authorities playing a great role in the probe than previously revealed, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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Suspects in Dubai assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh |
Mohammed al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas official accused by Israel of planning a series of terror attacks and weapons transfers, was found dead in a Dubai hotel room on January 19.
Dubai police have publicly accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of the hit, which sparked diplomatic outrage when it emerged that a group of suspects used forged passports of Israeli allies to enter the Gulf emirate.
The U.S. companies identified by investigators include wed-based firms that pair freelance job-seekers with employers and transfer payments between them, the Journal said. Authorities have identified financial transfers from several intermediary businesses into prepaid, cash-card accounts used by suspects in the Dubai killing, according to international investigators.
The companies are not accused of any complicity in the attack — instead, investigators believe suspects might have posed as freelancers to obtain while that obscuring its source, using the money for operational expenses, such as plane tickets.
Representatives of several companies identified in the probe, including, Elance Inc. and Rent a Coder, now called vWorker.com, said they had not been contacted by U.S. authorities and were unaware of any investigation.
Earlier in July a suspected Mossad agent charged with involvement in providing a forged German passport for the assassins began a fight against his extradition to Germany from Poland.
Uri Brodsky—who is also known to investigators by other names—asked a Polish court to send him to Israel instead of extraditing him to Germany.
On July 7, a district court ordered his extradition to Germany on the forgery charges only, meaning that he could only be tried in Germany for forgery and not spying—sparing Israel a potentially embarrassing high-profile espionage trial.
But Israel could face fresh discomfort if its key ally, the U.S., draws a new link between the killing of Mabhouh and the Mossad.
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these US investigators must be "jew haters" with an irrational hatred of israel and judaism
The bottom line is these companies look like they have facilitated murder in a foreign capital. And possible have financed terrorism. Under the Patriot Act, that is aiding and abetting terrorism. It is worth life at Supermax - 23 hours a day in a black hole dungeon. Just like Zacharias Moussaoui
Big deal over this guy who died. He was part of a terrorist group that is causing millions in damage for nothing. It shows how biased the press ..Rona you really need to read more Obama has nothing to do with killing of anyone. He is trying to politically make things better not that he is doing a great job of it but he is trying. Israel is trying to survive and live in peace and defend itself in a no win situation Lastly Israel and the Israeli people have been blessed with intelligence, resources and position around the world. Brazen is right Evil will never prevail
Wnats to change islamic teaching because it instigate violence while jewish law calls for the killing of non jews (Obama amogn them); stop the chanel of funds into the so called islamic terrorist organization while still channeling moneys to jewish to kill more people. Aren't you ashamed Mr. Obama from recieving the Nobel prize.
iran supplies hizbullah,hamas. Common knowledge. Evil will NEVER pervale. russia,syria,turkey are playing both sides of the sword. putin,assad and tyyip are trying to stay head of the train. when the wreck happens and it will happen those three will surely be collateral damage so hurt worse than others.
Why all of this shock and dismay over one dead terrorist? What if it was an Israeli military official? Would there be all of this press about it? No because there's a double standard.
Lets no lose note of the fact that the killers are heroes. Killing an Hamas killer anywhere at anytime is good. Good! Good ! Good!!!
If Interpol and world policing agencies actually fought terrorism instead of talking about it, Israel would not need to spend valuable resources, risk brave Israeli lives in order to rid the world of dangerous terrorist. Someone has to take out the trash!
In this case, Israel terrorism. Arab terrorists do not get a free-pass, why should Israeli terrorists? Especially those terrorists that put European and Australian citizens at risks by forging their passports to assasinate people.
Having Interpol fight Israeli terrorism instead of jihadi terrorism is like having a whole brigade of firefighters put out a candle while the mountains around burn to ashes.
But then Israel would be first on top of Interpol's list to be prosecuted for all its war crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide against the Palestinians among other charges and big brother America would not be there to help its spoiled child Israel because America itself will be accused for accessory to these crimes. It is a sharp double edged sword Mr. Chaim Ben Kahan.
These firms are owned by Israeli citizens living in the USA or having returned to Israel. Just wondering!
Israel can do whatever it wants and the most it can expect out of America is a "we do not find such actions productive"....
it doesn't matter who performed the act or who is behind it, although they deserve a prize. what matters is that there's one less filthy terrorist in the world. good work! I hope they keep on.
Any American who has financially supported any aspect of the past and present methods of Zionist expansionism including premeditated murder, should suffer the same fate as any American who supported any Arab or Muslim opponent of Israel after the 9/11 attack. Specifically, forfeiture of all financial assets, a stint and trial down at Gitmo, and the death penalty or life in prison. I have asked the question repeatedly and for many years, “Why does the U.S. have a separate set of rules for Jews?” Inequality is un-American and tolerance for racism and religious extremism is to some degree and endorsement of such behavior. Less than 4% of the U.S. population is Jewish, and not all Jews support the oppression of Palestinians. Why does the U.S. government vacate their supposed morality for the Zionist Jews? Perhaps Haaretz recent article addressing “Jewish Money” in American politics can provide an answer.
The US actually conducting an investigation? Ha ha! Sure, and when it's all said and done they'll discovered that alas! all of the people involved are jews and the companies owned by jews. At that point, AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League will step in and accuse the FBI of anti-semitism(tm), remind them of the Holocaust(tm), scream Hamas, Hamas, Hamas and the FBI will end up issuing two apologies (a la Oliver Stone) and giving Israel a few billions extra taxpayer bucks just to compensate for all the pain and suffering they have caused. End of the story!
Murder is Murder ... and these companies must be indicted for accessory to murder ... hope these terrorists are found and warrants for their arrests issued by Interpol. But knowing that the US is investigating I doubt that anything will ever come out of these investigation.
Mossad sent 32 (THIRTY TWO) agents to assassinate a nobody from Hamas in Dubai. The "deceased" was not known to have any particularly unique skills and was probably replaced within days. Why would Mossad act this way and risk so many agents for no good effect? The answer is "hubris". Mossad 's head (M. Dagan) was very successful in recent years, including the assassination of Mughnieh and the discovery of the nuclear site in Syria. His term in office was extended again and again, and he apparently came to think of himself as invulnerable. I bet Mughnieh also thought of himself this way. That led to their downfall. Dagan will now be leaving office in the next couple of months and Mossad will have a chance to develop cleaner acts.
to # 8 you are not Arab you are a Jew, do not fool people by saying every thing is fine and dandy !!!!!!!!!. it is not.
What? Just because I don't want the fighting to continue? Just because I want my children to grow and prosper in PEACE? you obviously do not live on an area where this constant battle has effected you. When you live in constant despair with no hope except to die, you too will get tired of the fighting. Don't fool yourself, the Jews are not going anywhere, it is te to welcome them and move on. Like I said EVERYONE deserves the right of return. If I demand that my rights and land return to me, how can I deny others, whether Jew, Christian, or Muslim the same thing. Stop being a khawal and an instigator. Who obviously do not live where the fighting is and you obviously have not lost anything in this useless war. Lose your home, your family, and your identity, then try and speak to me about who I am. Those who forgive and make peace are rewarded over those fetnez that cause trouble and make war. I speak of peace for my children and the children of those that we have been fighting, the only reward I ask os that my children live a good life inshAllah. What do you speak of? You must be from the U.S. Always meddling and causing conflict. EstakhfarAllah for having to respond to you. InshAllah the children of Abraham live in peace.
It amazes me that people actually don't approve of me wanting a genuine peace. Although it is a just cause, instigators will find any cause to attach themselves to. There will never be peace with people standing in the way of it.
It doesn't matter what speculations and whatever else surfaces. The terrorist is dead! Many lives have been saved. simples.
JJ the criminal minded one says the ends justify the means.....dont you for a second think thats how the other side feel too if this is how your so called democracy acts? So where will it end if none of you follow the laws? In perpetual state of agression is where. Its up to Israel to prove they are the democracy they cliam to be by bringing people to a fair trial and letting the real evidence prove their guilt. For years you people have accsed those you killed of being terrorists. Well if you have proof bring them to trial. if you dont have proof you assisinate and name call. Why wont the other side do the same as you then?
He could enter Dubai as he pleased to do cold business of death against Israelis, smuggling missiles into Gaza for Hamas, funnelling millions and being Tehran's pawn and commissioner in it. I would recommend for once to apply international law against Iran and the U.A.E in this case. About the amount of people allegedly needed to murder Al-Mabhouh: maybe the operation didn't have only assassinating him as a goal, but other issues as well. Or maybe, nowadays, it really does take some agencies 30 people to kill an arch-terrorist.
i have no doubt that the real operation has not been revealed. the hit was just part of it.
is becoming really anonying...
your annoyance to anger and beyond? We are here to help!
Funny, but this is a story that keeps on giving. What's ironic, is that Mossad thought they could waltz into a modern city... with a large intelligence team and not leave a digital footprint. In hindsight, the Israelis should have sent-in a Delta Force. Because, Dubai has some of the best security at its fingertips in the world. They merely had to run advanced software to mine for data of cell calls, hotel registrations and credit card transactions. And Obviously, that's what the Dubai investigators did. Now it appears, the Israelis agents will have some clean-up work to do. And the reputation of the Mossad... has been knocked-down a few notches.
This comment is racially prejudiced. USA, it's governmental agencies, and its elected representatives have always strongly supported Israel.
You are all so very special!
If the US draws any lionks and goes public with it, then it does teh world a diservice. Of course turn about is fair play, and perhaps Israel shoud out a few US spies in other countries. This is a dirty business where secrets are best kept. Benjamin franklin said it best "Three can keep a secret when two are dead"
That the US should also protect all those Israelis spying on the US?
You think America is not spying on Israel? You are quickly distinguishing yourself as one of the worst posters on here
No questions are ever asked about how Dubai allows terrorists easy access This will all end with crying
Yes, if this was done the way the authorities in Dubai said it was, then it is an international crime. But what people seem to forget is that this man was no doubt involved with killing innocent people. I'm sure I don't need to remind israeli's that Hamas was/is a group that kills indiscriminately. As a Muslim, I can never support these type of animals. Twist God's words to commit evil acts. There is a lot of bad thongs that have been done by both sides; this act is just an excuse for people to apply pressure to one side. Of course there is a lot that can be used for pressure on either side, but the pendulum is swinging Israel's way. It's time to start from scratch. Stryker by welcoming our Jewish brothers and sisters back home where they belong; peace will follow. Jews have been treated badly by the rest of the world, it's time we in the ME break the cycle. They are our theological ancestors and our blood. Look at us, I can't tell the difference. Jews just want a home like us; what better a place than where they belong, here with us at their home. All people deserve the right of return, whether Palestinian in Israel, or Jews that lost everything from the Mediterranean to Iran. We all lived in peace once; it can be again. We just need to shut the fundamentalists mouths from spreading hate and lies. I hurt when a child is killed or made to be a wanderer , whether Jew, Christian, Muslim, or just love God, or have no faith. We all bleed the blood God have us. Time to end this ridiculous family quarrel.
1. what was al-mabhouh doing in dubai, and more importantly, why was he headed to china. 2. why would any intelligence agency need over thirty agents to kill one man. 3. why is the entire west so obsessed with this one killing of a known arch terrorist when they themselves are having hit lists and killing many more terrorists, and with those, also innocent civilians.
forging the passports of others countries thus willfully putting the citizens of same at risk as done by an extremely arrogant country that has little concern for such repugnant actions.
1. That isn't in any way relevant - extrajudicial killings are just a posh name for state-sanctioned murder - plain and simple 2a. Good question - but Israel certainly isn't denying very hard - and doesn't seem at all upset, or trying to investigate, who managed to forge over a dozen passports of their own citizens. They're even trying to prevent someone who was involved in the forgeries from going to trial in Germany - any idea why they'd do that? 2b either a very incompetent Israeli agency (which managed to expose a very large nr of its agents for one bad guy), or a very competent non-Israeli agency (given that Israel or anyone else hasn't yet discovered their identity) 3. And every single individual involved in those should also be brought to trial.
nobody, israel or hamas, has the right to take life
I think you mean the family of the dead man can sue for millions......not can be sued for millions. In any case I vote thumbs down. These businesses offer an electronic service. If we follow your way of thinking then we can all sue these companies for one reason or another.
It appears the "electronic services" they offer directly relate to spying, assassinations and many other illegal things. But, yeah, this is an upsidedown world where right is wrong and wrong is right, legal is illegal and illegal is legal, particularly, when it comes to anything that has to do with Israel.
...and the people eliminating him and protecting innocent civilians are wrong
We need to end the Israeli occupation of America before we end the Palestinian occupation. How many of these companies are run by dual citizen Israelis taking up to 100K of military aid money per check. Israeli intelligence uses our country as a base of operation and funding. We need to disinfect ourselves of these parasites ASAP
Openly ,no investigation necessary. Who are those "investigators" in the US ? Rachel Corry's widowers ?
Is there a charity that we moral folk can donate to that the proceeds go to eliminating Hamas terrorist world wide? If so please let us know, I am sure many would send cash ASAP to have this done.
How can you claim to be moral and condone the taking of a life in the same sentance?
Peace Now, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the rest who are working for providing justice for the Palestinians. If you eliminate the cause, you eliminate the symptoms. (Or are you one of those who would spend money on perfumes to mask the smell, rather than treat a gangrenous wound?)
This has been proven, please research OSLO accords.
Imagine, by killing one terrorist, we can save countless innocents, surely that is the moral choice.
Instead, why not imagine how many innocent lives could be saved by eliminating Israel's industrial scale terrorism, (funded by the US)
This makes no difference, if avoiding a "spy process" was intended, because the background of the forgery must be discussed anyway.
do, russia, the US and few other countries. Why no fuss? Everyone is so obsessed with Israel. You see, many lefties, Jew haters, Israel bashers cannot handle Israel's progression in all fields and aspects. These people open their dirty mouth, stamp their feet and go in to a hysterical frenzie every time they get an opportunity to deligitimize Israel. The good thing is, Israel only gets morally stronger.
JJ. Israel used my countries (Ireland) Passport to MURDER a human being without a fair trial and yet Israel claimbs to be a democarcy. If America,Russia or any other country in the world use forge passports does that make it acceptable for Israel.
If an Irish pass has ever been used for a good purpose,that was the case. Rejoice instead of sulking.
All secret services use forged documents, yes. Do you know how they usually obtain them tho? Well its thru collaboration with their allies. They exoplain why they want documents and provide the proof the other country asks for to validate their request. Then that country issues passports in names of people that dont exist or are long dead. The fact here is your criminal minded country decided this time not to do that and just go ahead and forge their own documents in the names of living people thereby putting their lives in jeaporady and not caring about that one bit. Hence the countries who were annoyed by your behaviour let this be published in their press to show israel they are not above criticism by their allies nor are they a bove the laws or establshed protocols not matter how much they would like to think they are.
that so many governments are eager to investigate his death? i mean, let's be honest, there are quite a lot of similar intelligence attacks on suspected terrorists and weapon dealers, but usually we don't hear about them in the media. they are not revealed. only in this case we hear again and again something. why? what's so interesting and importang about this one hamas guy?
Saul, maybe the use of forged passports is the rub here.
something is odd about this story, I do not trust any of the people involved in this
You haven't a clue, have you? It is because using fake passports of one's allies embarrasses each and every travelling citizen from these allied countries. Plus, the thuggery being meant to achieve deterrence to perpetuate colonialism, isn't seen as such a good end nor means after all.
All this hysterics around him has originated in London .
the more this case drags on, the more it is apparent that the west wants to frame israel. no intelligence agency needs over thirty operatives to kill one man. keep in mind that only sixteen men were used to hijack and crash four airplanes and cause the deaths of three thousand people.
Disgusting events tend to have a life of their own. Forging the passports of others countries thus willfully putting the citizens of same at risk was done by an extremely arrogant country that has little concern for such repugnant actions. One of the many reasons it pretty much is held in contempt by the world community.
It's the way in which is was done - by forging so many allied documents and using allied resources for assassination they destroyed a lot of trust and broke a lot of laws. This was also done despite previous warnings from countries where similar offences had already been committed by Israel.
The name of the game is forged passport used by killers to travel to Dubai to kill. Do you accept killers use your identity to kill others. Wise-up.
People are humans, not "Jews" or "Non-Jews". As such, the killing of someone is a crime called murder, because a human was killed. When a state organizes and carries out a murder, it's an assassination. What's so important about you that you can ignore a murder?
one criminal already paid for his crimes, even if it did happen in a rather crude way. now they just need to catch and prosecute (or, I guess, assassinate) the 20+ individuals who were involved in his murder, the passport forgeries, and the identity thefts of Israeli citizens
What's so importante about you, "David", that you can ignore the cause and focus on the outcome only?
Fortuna... you clearly live in an alternative reality ot the rest of the world along with many other israelis. IF the guy did all he is accused of where is the evidence for it? If evidence exists in Mossads hands they could bring this guy to trial....its called the law. Something israel is happy to ignore as it carries out its own illegality. Your double standards are astounding. You think you have the right to ignore all laws and murder who you want, when you want for crimes only you accuse them of and dont show any proof for. And you think everyone else should follow the letter of the law when it comes to fighting your crimes. Idiot.
Two of the 'suicide' pilots are alive and well working as pilots in S Arabia. Their passports were forged. Why would suicidal Jihadists want to obscure their own identity as universal recognition is so important to them?
Or else, stop preaching nonsense.