Australia Boots Israeli Diplomat over Dubai Slay

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says Australia has asked Israel to withdraw a diplomat after an investigation found the country responsible for forging four Australian passports implicated in the slaying of a Hamas operative in Dubai.

Smith told Parliament on Monday that Israel's conduct was "not the actions of a friend."

Britain took similar action in March after concluding there was compelling evidence that Israel was responsible for the use of doctored British passports in the plot to kill Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on Jan. 20.

UAE Seeks Briton in Hamas Official's Slay

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said trust between the two countries had been badly dented, demanded formal assurances it never happen again and - in an unusual step - issued travel advice to U.K. citizens warning their identity details may be at risk if they visit Israel.

Dubai authorities accuse Israel's Mossad of carrying out al-Mabhouh's killing in a luxury hotel room, and have identified at least 26 suspects in an alleged hit squad.
Interpol has a wanted list of 27 people in connection with the slaying. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in al-Mabhouh's death.

At least 15 of the names used by the suspected killers match those of Israeli citizens who are dual nationals of Western countries. All have denied involvement.