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AUSTRALIA has taken the rare step of publicly reprimanding Israel over the forging of three Australian passports used in an apparent assassination by Israeli spies in Dubai.
Kevin Rudd, who has described himself as a lifelong supporter of Israel, said he was ''deeply concerned'' about the affair and pledged Australia would ''not be silent on this matter''. While the government did not expressly blame Israel - which has refused to comment - it made the significant diplomatic move of summoning the Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, to demand an explanation.
Authorities in Dubai have named three Australians - Adam Korman, Bruce Joshua Daniel and Nicole Sandra McCabe - whose passports were used in a plot they have blamed on the Israeli spy agency Mossad. All three live in Israel. Mr Korman, 34, who was born in Australia and lives in Tel Aviv, where he sells musical instruments, told the Israeli news website Ynet he was ''frightened and shocked''.
The murder in a Dubai hotel of a senior Hamas figure, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, last month has developed into an ever-expanding intrigue involving CCTV footage of a costume-changing hit squad and forged passports from as many as 26 people from Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia. Israel has refused to confirm or deny involvement in the death of Mr al-Mabhouh, who reportedly bought arms for Hamas and was in Dubai to arrange a weapons purchase from Iran.
It is understood that Australian security agencies believe the passports were copied without their owners' knowledge, probably in Israel.
The Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, called Mr Rotem to Parliament yesterday morning to express Australia's concerns and indicate that forging passports by Israel would not be regarded as the ''act of a friend''.
Mr Smith said he demanded Israel's ''full and transparent co-operation'' with an investigation by the federal police, ASIO and the passport office. ''I indicated to [Mr Rotem] that if we did not receive that co-operation then we would potentially draw adverse conclusions from that.''
Mr Smith said he spoke to Mr Rotem for ''five or six minutes'' but would not say whether he specifically asked if Israel was responsible. The Israeli embassy refused to comment but said it had passed on Mr Smith's request for co-operation to Jerusalem.
An initial assessment by security agencies found the three passports were copied but made no conclusions on culpability.
Mr Smith would not say whether he blamed Israel. But, asked whether calling in the ambassador was a diplomatic rebuke, he said: ''This is a very serious matter.''
Jewish community and pro-Israel organisations, including the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, refused to comment.
The government has pledged to assist the three Australians and ensure they can travel.
Intriguingly, the holders of two of the passports - those of Mr Korman and Ms McCabe - apparently visited Dubai together last August and took a boat to Iran.
Australian passports | Israel challenged over forgeries | Dubai