Australia Expels “Israeli” Diplomat over Forged Passports

The federal government of Australia has ordered the expulsion of an "Israeli" diplomat over fraudulent use of Australian passports by "Israel" to assassinate a Hamas official, the Guardian reported on Monday.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that investigations had led to concrete evidence that "Israeli" intelligence services were behind the forgery of four Australian passports used in the murder of senior Hamas commander Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai back in January.

"These investigations and advice have left the government in no doubt that "Israel" was responsible for the abuse and counterfeiting of these passports," Reuters quoted Smith as telling the country's parliament.

"No government can tolerate the abuse of its passports," he added, explaining further that this is not what Canberra expects from Tel Aviv with which it has had "such a close, friendly and supportive relationship."

The Australian foreign minister said the government had asked that "a member of "Israel's" Australian embassy in Canberra be withdrawn within a week" without disclosing the individual's identity.

Al Mabhouh was assasinated on January 19 in a hotel room by a hit squad of at least 11 people carrying forged international passport, Dubai authorities have indicated.