Ireland expels Israeli embassy staffer over Dubai hit http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/ireland-expels-israeli-embassy-staffer-over-dubai-hit-1.296334

Ireland's government said on Tuesday it was calling on Israel to withdraw a designated member of staff at its Dublin embassy over the use of fake passports in the assassination of a top Hamas militant in Dubai in January.Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said an investigation had showed that the eight Irish passports used by suspects in the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh were forgeries.

"The misuse of Irish passports by a state with which Ireland enjoys friendly, if sometimes frank, bilateral relations is clearly unacceptable and requires a firm response," he said in a statement.Martin said he would not reveal the name or function of the official concerned, in accordance with diplomatic practice."I want to state clearly that the official concerned is not accused or suspected of any particular wrongdoing," Martin said.

"In being obliged to leave their post prematurely, the official concerned is a victim of the actions of the State they represent."Dubai has accused Israel of being behind the killing of the Hamas commander and has provided the names of over two dozen alleged members of a team it says tracked and killed the Palestinian, using fraudulent British, Irish, French, German and Australian passports.