News

AUSTRALIA yesterday warned Israel
its standing as a friend would be jeopardised if it were found to have
condoned the suspected theft of three Australian citizens' identities by
its Mossad spy agency to carry out a political assassination.

As Kevin Rudd demanded answers over Israel's role in the growing
international scandal - and ASIO and the Australian Federal Police
launched investigations - it was revealed that Australia had previously
warned Israel not to use fake Australian passports for intelligence
operations.

A diplomatic row broke out yesterday when three
Victorians, all living in Israel, were confirmed among 26 people from
four nations whose tampered passports were allegedly used by a team of
suspected Israeli Mossad agents who assassinated Hamas official Mahmoud
al-Mabhouh in Dubai last month.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith
summoned Israel's ambassador to Australia, Yuval Rotem, early yesterday
to express his "grave concern" about the issue.

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