Israeli FM Faces Grilling from European Colleagues on Passport Theft for Hit

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will be grilled on Wednesday by three of his European counterparts over the alleged identity thefts involved in the assassination of Palestinian Hamas terrorist Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Since Al-Mabhouh’s death, Dubai police have determined that a number of identities were taken from citizens of European nations – perhaps copied from legitimate passports as the passport-holders passed through Israel’s Ben Gurion airport — and used by the hit squad believed to be working for Israeli intelligence. Israel has made no admission of responsibility. Lieberman will be questioned in Brussels by his British, French and Irish counterparts and by the German deputy foreign minister.  Al-Mabhouh was wanted by Israel for the kidnap-murder of two of its soldiers in 1989 and for his present role in organizing shipments of arms from Iran to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Hamas vehemently denied an allegation by Dubai’s police chief that the hit was set up by a defector from within Hamas’ ranks.