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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Related Issues Home page  back Print  Send To friend E.U. Decries Passport Use by Assassins By STEPHEN CASTLE The New York Times February 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/world/europe/23iht-dubai.html?scp=1&sq=Assassins%20passports&st=cse BRUSSELS — The European Union said Monday that it “strongly condemns” the use of forged European passports by the suspected assassins of a Palestinian leader, but it avoided any direct criticism of Israel, which has been accused of mounting the attack. The E.U.’s declaration came as foreign ministers from some of the nations whose passports were counterfeited met individually with their Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, who was in Brussels for a series of meetings. The police in Dubai police have accused Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, of using fake European passports and credit cards to help plan the murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a founder of Hamas’s armed wing, in a Dubai hotel in January. But the European Union avoided apportioning any blame for the attack in a statement, issued by foreign ministers, which called the murder “profoundly disturbing,” and added that it “cannot be conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.” No measures were threatened against the Israeli government, nor did the European Union identify what steps might be taken next, except for cooperation with police inquiries. “At the present time, the member states have been extremely angry at what happened,” said Catherine Ashton the E.U. foreign policy chief. “These discussions are ongoing — that’s where we are.” After holding talks with Mr. Lieberman, Micheal Martin, the foreign minister of Ireland, said Mr. Lieberman had said he did not have more information on the incident. “He didn’t deny it,” Mr. Martin said, “but I don’t want that to be construed one way or the other. He said he didn’t have any information.” Mr. Martin added that five Irish passport numbers were used. Unlike the British cases, actual identities were not stolen, though the passport’s genuine holders were put on anti-terrorism lists, Mr. Martin said. In London, the British government said a total of eight forged British passports were used in connection with the Dubai killing. David Miliband, the British foreign minister, also held talks with Mr. Lieberman in Brussels. “We need to get to the bottom of it,” Mr. Miliband said afterward, stressing “the importance we attach to Israel cooperating with the investigation.” In a statement on its Web site, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in response to Mr. Martin’s questions: “Foreign Minister Lieberman stated that no report links Israel to the incident. The foreign minister added that if alternate information, beyond media reports, would emerge, then Israel would respond.” Mr. Lieberman said that “many false accusations are made against Israel on numerous issues,” the statement added. id Links to the latest articles in this section Adam Keller in Berlin, Sept 5-8 Activists protest Tel Aviv arms exhibition: `Arms trade is death trade` In Memeoriam Beate Keller Zilversmidt, 1942-2021