After Britain, Ireland Expels "Israeli" Diplomat for Using Forged Passports

Ireland expelled an "Israeli" diplomat for the charge of using forged Irish passports in the assassination of a Hamas official in Dubai last January.

IRNA agency quoted Tuesday the Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martins saying, "The fact that the forged Irish passports were used by members of the same group who carried the forged British and Australian passports, leads us to the inescapable conclusion that an "Israeli" government agency was responsible for the misuse and, most likely, the manufacture of the forged Irish passports associated with the murder".

Martin said that the Irish cabinet called the "Israeli" Embassy in Dublin to withdraw a designated member of staff, whom he refused to reveal his name and function.

However, he said it had "yielded no response and no denial" from "Israel".

Martins stressed that his government and the majority of the Irish people disagree with certain policies pursued by the "Israeli" government, particularly in its relations with the occupied Palestinian territories.

"I will not hesitate to express criticism of such policies where I believe this is warranted and where the policies in question, such as the current blockade of Gaza, are inimical to the achievement of a viable two-state solution", the Irish Foreign Minister expressed.

The action comes three months after Britain expelled an "Israeli" diplomat, reportedly the London head of Mossad intelligence agency, when former foreign secretary David Miliband also demanded a pledge from "Israel" not to stop faking UK passports.