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Britain demands ’full cooperation’ from Israel over false passports

19 February 2010 02:26 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Britain told Israel yesterday that it expects â€œfull co-operationâ€ with an inquiry into the fraudulent use of British and European passports by suspected Mossad agents on their assassination mission to Dubai, APA reports citing Ria Novosti.

The statement from David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, came as senior Israeli diplomats were summoned in at least three other European capitals to be asked if they could provide any details about the identity theft used to create false passports.

In Jerusalem, an Israeli diplomat told the Hebrew daily Haaretz that the Government had decided to withhold a public statement until the European messages were received and would then consider its response.

The meetings set the scene for a showdown in Brussels next week, when Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Foreign Minister, is scheduled to meet Mr Miliband and the ministers of other EU member states. There is speculation that they could launch a joint investigation.

A united European front could prove more difficult for Israel to ignore. The meeting in Brussels would also bring foreign ministers face to face with Mr Lieberman, who is of sufficient rank to know of Israelâ€™s possible involvement in the killing.