Irish FM to ask Lieberman for clarifications on Dubai operation
Martin says will 'underline our deep concern' about use of fake Irish passports by al-Mabhouh hit squad during meeting with Israeli counterpart in Brussels; Miliband will also raise issue during talks with Lieberman
During his scheduled visit to Brussels next week, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will be asked to explain how the hit squad behind the assassination of senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai obtained forged British and Irish passports.
Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said Saturday that he would discuss the matter with Lieberman on Monday. "I intend to meet the Israeli foreign minister in Brussels to underline our deep concern about the fake use of passports in Dubai and to seek reassurance and clarification on this very serious issue," he told BBC News.
Martin said he planned to further discuss the matter at his meeting with 26 other EU foreign ministers next week.
"I also spoke with the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates overnight and we remain in close contact with the British government," he told BBC.
Israel's Mossad spy agency has been blamed for the killing. Dubai police have identified 11 suspects who apparently traveled to Dubai on European passports. The list included six people with British passports, three with Irish passports, and one each from France and Germany.
British FM David Miliband also said he would raise the passport issue during his meeting with Lieberman in Brussels.
German weekly Der Spiegel reported Saturday that one of the passports used by the hit squad that killed al-Mabhouh in Dubai was not forged.
According to the report, the German passport belonging to one of the suspected hit squad members was genuine, prompting German authorities to launch an investigation.
The use of European passports in the al-Mabhouh assassination sparked a row between Israel and a number of European Union countries. Israel's ambassadors to London, Dublin, Berlin and Paris were all asked to provide explanations regarding Mossad's alleged involvement in the hit.
However, officials in Jerusalem have estimated that the criticism against Israel will subside due to the fact that western countries support the war on terror.
