Pressure mounted on Israel Thursday as Australia became the latest nation seeking answers over the use of its passports in the Dubai killing by suspected Mossad agents of a top Hamas figure. According to AFP, Australia summoned the Israeli ambassador to discuss the latest development in the investigation into the killing.
Australia "will not be silent on the matter," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after three Australian passport-holders were named among 15 new suspects linked to last month's killing of Mahmud al-Mabhuh. "If Australian passports are being used or forged by any state, let alone for the purpose of assassination, this is of the deepest concern and we are getting to the bottom of this now," Rudd told public broadcaster ABC.
"We will not leave a single stone unturned."
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who summoned Israeli ambassador Yuval Rotem for an explanation Thursday, said initial investigations showed the Australian passports were probably "duplicated or altered". They had not yet reached any conclusions, Smith added.
"But I made it crystal clear to the ambassador that if the results of that investigation cause us to come to the conclusion that the abuse of Australian passports was in any way sponsored or condoned by Israeli officials, then Australia would not regard that as the act of a friend."
