Israeli ambassador should be expelled because of Dubai murder

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday March 23, 2010 22:54 by Fintan Lane - IPSC

IRELAND-PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

PRESS RELEASE, 23/3/10

IRISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPEL THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND

The British government today expelled an Israeli diplomat over the forgery by the Israeli secret service of British passports which were then used to murder a political opponent in Dubai. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior Palestinian political figure, was murdered by Mossad agents in January using Irish, British and other forged passports. Interpol has issued arrest warrants for 27 people involved in the assassination.

Speaking in the British parliament, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that there are “compelling reasons” to believe that Israel was behind the misuse of forged British passports in Dubai. In fact, it has been clear to most observers from the outset that Mossad was directly responsible for the murder. Mr Milband said it was "highly likely" the Israeli secret service Mossad was involved and the fact that Israel was a close ally added "insult to injury". For further information this, click on the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons...2.stm

Reacting to the British moves today, the chairperson of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), Dr David Landy, said: “The expulsion of a diplomat is not enough and we would like to see much stronger action taken against the Israeli state. However, we welcome it as a clear public recognition of Israel’s culpability in the murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. What happened in Dubai was an act of international terrorism. We also feel that European states become complicit in the oppression of Palestinians when they view Israel as an 'ally' or 'friend' - Israel needs to be confronted and identified as a gross abuser of human rights. Israel operates an apartheid system that discriminates against the Palestinian people.”

Dr Landy continued: “The Irish government have been disappointingly slow in taking action over the Israeli misuse of forged Irish passports for murder and other criminal activities. They should now follow the example set by London and expel the Israeli ambassador to Ireland. They should also push at EU level for firm action to be taken against Israel, including the economic isolation of that rogue state while it continues to deny self-determination and basic civil rights to the Palestinian people.”

“Forged Irish passports were used by Israel in the carrying out of a murder. This is a most serious matter and the Irish government needs to take a much stronger line. At the very least, the Israeli ambassador should be expelled and the embassy closed.”

PRESS RELEASE ENDS
For further information, phone Dr David Landy (IPSC chairperson) at XXXX, or Dr Fintan Lane (IPSC media officer) at 087 1258325.