Embassy official to be expelled | J-Wire

AS POSTED HERE ,,, Embassy official to be expelled | J-Wire

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has directed that a member of the Israeli Embassy be withdrawn from Australia within a week following the investigation of the Dubai passports affair.

Stephen Smith
He said: “The investigaion and advice have left the Government in no doubt that Israel was responsible for the abuse and counterfeiting of these passports,” adding “these are not the actions of a friend”
The Minister has told parliament that the Israeli Charge D’Affaires was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade this morning.
Dubai authorities announced that four Australian passports had been used by those held responsible for the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmouhd al-Madbouh on January 20 this year.
The Minister told the House on February-25 that the passports “had been used fraudulently” and he condemned in the strongest terms possible the “misuse and abuse of Australian passports.” On the same day, the Australian Federal Police launched their investigation into the misuse of the passports. Others involved included ASIO [Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, ASIS [the Australian Secret Intelligence Service] and the Australian Passport Office.
The Director-General of ASIO visited Israel earlier this month following the tabling of the initial report.
Smith, who received the further report last week, told Parliament: “I briefed the National Security Committee of the Cabinet this morning.” He also briefed the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He said the report made it clear that the passport holders identified by Dubai authorities “were no more tha innocent victims of identity fraud.”
He then made it clear the passports were “deliberately counterfeited and cloned for use” and that the high quality of the fake passports points to a State intelligence service.
In his announcement Foreign Minister Smith said that the Department made it clear that Australia regards the abuse of these passports as inconsistent with the friendship and support provided by successive Australian governments to Israel since its creation as a nation.
He said: Australia’s relationship with Israel has always been funded on a basis of mutual respect and trust.”
Smith said: “The Government takes this step much more in sorrow than in anger or retaliation. Australia’s support for Israel has long enjoyed bi-partisan support. Australia remains a firm friend for Israel. We expect this and future Israeli governments to ensure that this incident is not repeated.”
Ambassador Yuval Rotem and Deputy Chief of Mission Eli Yerushalami are both currently overeseas.