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Britain to expel Israeli diplomat Britain expels Israeli diplomat
(40 minutes later)
The UK is to expel an Israeli diplomat over the use of 12 forged British passports by the killers of a Hamas leader in Dubai, the BBC has learned. The UK is to expel an Israeli diplomat over the use of 12 forged British passports by the killers of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband will make a statement to Parliament later. Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the Commons there were "compelling reasons" to believe Israel was responsible for the passport "misuse".
Israel has said there is no proof that its agents were behind the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January. He said: "Such misuse is intolerable and a hazard for the safety of British nationals.
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen said the person to be expelled is likely to be the London head of Israel's secret service, Mossad. Israel says there is no proof it was behind the killing in Dubai in January.
Our correspondent said the expulsion would send a "very clear message" of British disapproval. BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen said the expulsion sent a "very clear message" of British disapproval.
"It is a very big step for a government like the British to expel one of the diplomats belonging to one of its important allies," he said.
Strong messageStrong message
Diplomatic sources stressed the British government has stopped short of accusing Israel of the murder. "It is a very big step for a government like the British to expel one of the diplomats belonging to one of its important allies," he said.
However Mr Miliband has previously demanded that Israel co-operate fully with the investigation into how the passports were obtained. The British government has stopped short of accusing Israel of the murder, but Mr Miliband has previously demanded full co-operation with its investigation into how the passports were obtained.
Downing Street confirmed that the head of Britain's diplomatic service, Peter Ricketts, met Israel's ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, on Monday. There can't be a greater violation of trust for one ally to abuse the passports of another ally Sir Menzies Campbell class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8583041.stm">Expulsion 'a strong signal'
The foreign secretary is to make his statement at 1530 GMT on Tuesday after officers from Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) indicated they had found proof of the cloned passports. Officers from Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) indicated they had found proof of the cloned passports.
It is a very big step for a government Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor Expulsion 'a strong signal'
The officers had travelled to Israel to speak to those whose passports were copied with new photographs inserted.The officers had travelled to Israel to speak to those whose passports were copied with new photographs inserted.
A spokesman for Hamas, a Palestinian group, said it welcomed any decision to expel a Mossad official but wanted international efforts to track down the killers stepped up. A spokesman for Hamas, a Palestinian group, said it welcomed the decision to expel the diplomat but wanted international efforts to track down the killers stepped up.
Former Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said for a diplomat to be expelled, Israel must have had "some hand" in the matter, or been unwilling to co-operate with Soca.Former Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said for a diplomat to be expelled, Israel must have had "some hand" in the matter, or been unwilling to co-operate with Soca.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "It is very serious indeed... there can't be a greater violation of trust for one ally to abuse the passports of another ally."He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "It is very serious indeed... there can't be a greater violation of trust for one ally to abuse the passports of another ally."
ANALYSISANALYSIS
Tim Franks, BBC News, JerusalemTim Franks, BBC News, Jerusalem
In the land where they love to talk, Israeli officials are staying remarkably tight-lipped. At least until David Miliband speaks.
"It doesn't look good," was the terse verdict of one former senior diplomat, before he decided it would be better if he said no more. Other sources suggest that this is a "standard dance" the British have to go through. They expected that the UK would not want this to be an "ongoing irritant".
There is a clear Israeli desire to talk this argument down from one where it could damage the wider relationship.There is a clear Israeli desire to talk this argument down from one where it could damage the wider relationship.
As for the more general Israeli view, that is mixed. Many believe that there is a measure of slightly unconvincing righteous indignation from the countries whose nationals had their passports cloned. Those Israelis argue that Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was as much an enemy of the West, as of Israel.As for the more general Israeli view, that is mixed. Many believe that there is a measure of slightly unconvincing righteous indignation from the countries whose nationals had their passports cloned. Those Israelis argue that Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was as much an enemy of the West, as of Israel.
But there are a good number of Israelis who also believe this was a cack-handed operation, which blew the identities of 27 valuable agents, and caused an unnecessary diplomatic stink.But there are a good number of Israelis who also believe this was a cack-handed operation, which blew the identities of 27 valuable agents, and caused an unnecessary diplomatic stink.
Downing Street confirmed that the head of Britain's diplomatic service, Peter Ricketts, met Israel's ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, on Monday.
Last month Mr Miliband described the use of fake UK passports as an "outrage" and vowed that the inquiry would "get to the bottom" of the affair.Last month Mr Miliband described the use of fake UK passports as an "outrage" and vowed that the inquiry would "get to the bottom" of the affair.
It is believed 12 fake British passports were used in the plot to murder Mr Mabhouh - the founder of Hamas's military wing - in his hotel room in Dubai on 19 January.It is believed 12 fake British passports were used in the plot to murder Mr Mabhouh - the founder of Hamas's military wing - in his hotel room in Dubai on 19 January.
The names and details on the UK passports used by eight of the 12 suspects belonged to British-Israeli citizens living in Israel. All of them have denied involvement.The names and details on the UK passports used by eight of the 12 suspects belonged to British-Israeli citizens living in Israel. All of them have denied involvement.
Dubai police have used CCTV footage to identify 27 alleged members of the team that tracked and killed Mr Mabhouh.Dubai police have used CCTV footage to identify 27 alleged members of the team that tracked and killed Mr Mabhouh.
Other members of the hit squad travelled on fake Irish, French and Australian travel documents, Dubai police said.Other members of the hit squad travelled on fake Irish, French and Australian travel documents, Dubai police said.
Dubai officials said they were "99% certain" that agents from Mossad were behind the killing but Israel has said there is no proof.Dubai officials said they were "99% certain" that agents from Mossad were behind the killing but Israel has said there is no proof.
Following his death, Mr Mabhouh's family said medical teams that examined him determined he had died after receiving a massive electric shock to the head. They also found evidence that he had been strangled.Following his death, Mr Mabhouh's family said medical teams that examined him determined he had died after receiving a massive electric shock to the head. They also found evidence that he had been strangled.
Blood samples sent to a French laboratory confirmed he was killed by electric shock, after which the body was sent to Syria, they said.Blood samples sent to a French laboratory confirmed he was killed by electric shock, after which the body was sent to Syria, they said.
Thousands of people attended his funeral at the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, on the outskirts of Damascus in January.Thousands of people attended his funeral at the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, on the outskirts of Damascus in January.
In 1988 Britain expelled Israeli diplomat Arie Regev over a spying row. He was described by UK sources as a Mossad agent.In 1988 Britain expelled Israeli diplomat Arie Regev over a spying row. He was described by UK sources as a Mossad agent.
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CCTV footage of the hit squad suspects in a Dubai hotel released in FebruaryCCTV footage of the hit squad suspects in a Dubai hotel released in February