AUSTRALIAN, BRITISH and IRISH passport holders named as suspects in the assassination of a Hamas militant, have been living in Israel….. And the Melbourne-based mother of one suspect …..says her pregnant daughter is days away from giving birth in Israel, the Herald Sun reported.
The Australian federal opposition party has used the news to argue that forged passports could bypass the Rudd Labor government’s new counter-terrorism plans to apply strict new visa tests to applicants from 10 countries…..
Three of the passports are Australian, in the names of Nicole Sandra Mccabe, Adam Korman and Bruce Joshua Daniel. Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot has reported that Mr Korman, 34, is Australian-born but lives in Tel Aviv, where he fixes musical instruments.
He has told the newspaper he is shocked over what has happened and is the victim of identity theft. “It’s identity theft, simply unbelievable,” he is quoted as saying. “I have travelled all over the world but never visited Dubai or the United Arab Emirates.” …..
Ms McCabe and Mr Daniel also reportedly live in Israel. Kevin Rudd said today that the Australian government had made contact with them.
Last week British and Irish nationals whose passports were used by suspects in the hit were confirmed as having their identities stolen.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called in the Israeli ambassador this morning to discuss the operation, which has been linked to the spy agency Mossad.
The Prime Minister declared “we will get to the bottom of this”. “We will not leave a single stone unturned.”
The national security committee of cabinet met last night on the issue and Mr Rudd and Mr Smith have been in close consultations. “For the government of Australia, this is a matter of the deepest concern,” he said. “We will not let the matter rest.”
A spokesman for the Depratment of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “Dubai authorities have informed Australian officials of the possible use of three Australian passports in connection with the murder of Hamas figure Mahmud al-Mabhuh in a Dubai hotel room last month.
“Australian officials are coporating fully with Dubai police in their investigations. The Foreign Minister will make a detailed statement on this matter (today)”.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop used the development to attack the government’s new security plans. “The assassination squad appears to have used forged passports from countries that do not need visas to travel to Dubai,” Ms Bishop said. “(This) allowed them to bypass eye scans and other biometric tests…..
