Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Israel, Mossad and the British passports controversy

Will anyone condemn extrajudicial killings?

By Mehdi Hasan Published 17 February 2010 17:59

The Dubai/Hamas assassination/Mossad story continues to dominate the news. Gordon Brown has promised a "full investigation" into how fraudulent British passports were allegedly used by the killers of a senior Hamas commander in Dubai.

The national newspapers went big on it this morning, too. The Independent's front-page headline was:

The moment Mossad agents got their man?

The Daily Mail front page went with:

Terror of innocent Britons named as assassins

It also included a reference to a "Mossad hit squad" in its standfirst.

The Guardian avoided a Mossad reference in its front-page headline:

Dubai killers stole identities of UK citizens

Here's the funny thing: in most of the coverage, the shock and outrage seems to concern the stolen passports and identities, and not the unlawful killing itself. As Paul Lewis and Julian Borger wrote in the Guardian:

The Israeli government would not comment tonight on allegations of its involvement in Mabhouh's killing, which, if confirmed, would trigger a diplomatic row with Britain, and the other three European nations whose passports were used: Ireland, Germany and France.

So as long as suspected Israeli assassins avoid using passports issued by western nations as part of their illegal and murderous activities abroad, that's fine. We can carry on with our lives. Turn a blind eye. The Israelis, of course, have form when it comes to assassinations abroad.

Let me ask you this: can you imagine the reaction if members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were suspected of assassinating an Iranian dissident living in Dubai, or an Israeli politician or general visting a foreign country?

But Israel's long-standing policy of "targeted killings", or assassinations, is tolerated by the "international community". Western nations have, in a sense, become complicit -- in fact, under Bush and Obama, the US has emulated the illegal and bloody practice in its own so-called war on terror.

Why? Because Israeli assassins, or US assassins, kill terrorists. Baddies. Wanted men. Really? That makes it OK? So which member of the international community will be sending a hit squad to Israel to "take out" that wanted terrorist, Yitzhak Shamir?

UPDATE: Robert Fisk has written an interesting piece on possible "collusion" by western intelligence agencies in the killing.

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39 comments

Thu, 2010-02-18 01:59 — Daniele1

Good article Medhi. I was wondering about the same thing today. Nowhere was there a word of condemnation for the deed. In fact there was more admiration than anything else. "Like a James Bond film" I heard someone joke on Channel 5.
I can just imagine how different the reporting of such an assassination would have been if say an Israeli politician had been killed by Hamas.Nothing to do with being a Muslim, Medhi is right to point at the double standards that the Western media applies in such cases.It is outrageous. This is murder by a so called democratic government. So what makes them any different from your common terrorist? Once again, Israel gets away with murder, the West simply winking as they go about their business killing anyone who is in their way.Ooops! I can already hear the accusation of antisemitism in my ears.I'll just have to get used to it and ignore it.

Thu, 2010-02-18 04:17 — Malice In Wonderland (not verified)

Thank you for writing this article and voicing the thoughts which echo those of many like myself. And no, I'm not a Muslim to those of you "out there" who seem to believe only a Muslim could possibly find Zionist Israel and its death squads abhorrent.

From Australia Martin... thumbs up. I'll be reading more of your writing from now on.

Cheers

Thu, 2010-02-18 05:21 — lavinia moore

Congratulations Mehdi.
Your article got the closest to asking the questions that need to be asked.Such as:
Is it legal or moral to assassinate nationals of another country in a third country?
The obvious answer is "No".
Given that answer, if a state commits or directs such an act- which seems to me to meet the definition of a terrorist act- then ought not states which want tobe seen as upholding international law act to arrest, detain and bring to court those who were involved in carrying out the murder, or the planning of the act(aiding and abetting) or covering up the the crime(accessories after the fact), and the states that sponsored or gave "material support" to the terrorists who committed the assassination/murder/extra-judicial killing.
And if you don't agree with this, are you actually saying that its only when terrorist acts are committed by other terrorists, and not us terrorists, that sanctions, invasions and drone hits etc are in order.
Oh what a tangled web we weave.....

Thu, 2010-02-18 05:22 — MAKootage

@alan stoddard its so much easier to attack the author personally than address him on his content isn't it? the dead man in question should have been prosecuted via legal means. that's how you rise above the terrorists. otherwise, you're no better

Mon, 2010-03-01 04:53 — Cameron (not verified)

Is Israel a Good Global Citizen?

Israel has been accused of using fake passports from Australia, Britain, Ireland, France and Germany in the assassination of a Hamas leader in Dubai. In 2004 New Zealand cut diplomatic ties with Israel when two Israeli agents attempted to secure New Zealand passports and in 1996 Israel was caught using counterfeit Canadian passports. In the wake of this, and Israel's failure to adhere to numerous United Nations resolutions, the question must be asked; Is Israel a Good Global Citizen? I fear that the answer may not be answered in the positive.

Thu, 2010-02-18 10:03 — Incorrigible

@ Mehdi...keep the interesting articles coming...

The US has for a long time turned a blind eye and in fact supported regimes carrying out torture and illegal killings. It does not escape me that 11th September is memorable for two reasons...9/11... and the fact that back on 11th September 1973 the US backed the overthrow of a democratically elected Allende in favour of Pinochet whose regime tortured and killed thousands...

For years we have seen America complicit in the support of Israeli attacks on men, women and children in Gaza...why then would the US worry about investigating the "target" killing of one Hamas commander in Dubai...

Where Brown's focus lies on this matter, simply stolen passports or accountability for an assassination remains to be seen...

Incorrigible (Carol)

Thu, 2010-02-18 12:01 — Chris (not verified)

Good points in this article.

Thu, 2010-02-18 12:16 — Ali (not verified)

Totally agree with what Mehdi is saying but another issue for me is, what the hell was he doing staying in a 5 star luxury hotel when his own people are suffering?

Tue, 2010-02-23 11:24 — Ovadhia Ca (not verified)

Where were you Mr Hasan, when Saddam was butchering his own people? Have you ever commented on the terrorist response from Islamic world? Or would you rather they maintain their status quo aka the default aggressive response? Have you ever commented on the primitive fundamentalist male dominated religous ideology that stagnates the Islamic world, worse still that it affects the rest of the world due to them migrating and having to put up with the torture of being Islamified? You forgot to mention that this was a retaliation to Palestinian terrorism. More power to Mossad and thumbs down to extremists like Mehdi and terrorist supporters.

Thu, 2010-02-18 13:12 — vanrisszcu

Ha ha, Ali, great point!

Thu, 2010-02-18 13:36 — Claddach

I think parallels can be made with the 1942 “extra-judicial killing” by Czech agents of Reinhard Heydrich. Mabhouh, like Heydrich, was the representative of a despicable Jew hating group. Mabhouh, like Heydrich, was dedicated to the murder of innocent Jewish civilians. Mabhouh, like Heydrich, was a legitimate target. Like Heydrich he is no longer a problem.

Thu, 2010-02-18 13:47 — Peter S. (not verified)

What a laugh, some British Politician is now worried that terrorists will be using fake British passports to commit their murders. But Good God islamic terrorists have been issued with genuine British Passports to commit their bombings etc etc.

Thu, 2010-02-18 14:36 — Andrew (not verified)

Great article Mehdi. Am am not surprised the mainstream media have completely missed the point with the coverage of this affair. No doubt the Israeli govt will just get a slap on the wrist and it will be business as usual again.

Thu, 2010-02-18 14:40 — Tom (not verified)

The reason that any outrage expressed in our media is over the use of British passports, rather than the actual assassination, is presumably because most people, journalists included, think that the Hamas chief got his just desserts, and that the world is a better place without him. While left-wingers, 'liberals' and 'progressives' have an obsessive need to understand and accommodate evil, always insisting that cruelty is a symptom of social injustice, rather than an injustice in itself, most people just want to see evil confronted. To that extent, ordinary people are generally pleased to see terrorists given a dose of their own medicine.

The barely concealed antisemitism on this comment thread makes for an unsettling read.

I disagree with you, Mehdi, that there is a double standard in play over reportage of this possible killing by Israeli agents, as opposed to the way the media might report Iranian-sponsored killing of Israelis. For instance, the Islamic Jihad Organisation, part of Hezbollah, the proxy army of Iran in Lebanon, bombed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aries in 1992. 29 were killed, 242 injured. 4 Jews were killed, the rest were Argentinians, including numerous children. So that was an Iranian-backed terrorist attack against a target that was both diplomatic, and Jewish - with numerous civilian casualties. And there was only limited coverage of it in our media at the time - many of your readers won't even have heard of it.

And yes, the Mossad 'has form' where the elimination of Israel's mortal enemies are concerned - but so what? Who can blame them? What realistic possibility is there of ever bringing Middle Eastern terrorists to justice through the courts? There are always regimes that are eager to shelter the enemies of Israel and the West. Abu Nidal, for instance, was protected by Saddam in Iraq, once ill health forced him to retire from terrorism.

Thu, 2010-02-18 15:09 — Solomon Hughes (not verified)

In 2001 Martin Indyk, Clinton's ambassador to Israel, went on Israeli TV to condemn the assassination policy very very directly. Indyk said "The United States government is very clearly on the record as against targeted assassinations," he said. "They are extrajudicial killings, and we do not support that."

I think the principal reason the United States have backed off from this statement of principle is that they have launched their own assassination scheme under the "War on Terror" - especially with the (not that accurately targeted) Predator programme.

I wrote about this here

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/82563

(although in truth I was cribbing heavily from a very useful article in the New Yorker last year by Jane Mayer)
Amnesty fans will also be pleased to know AI have been down on "targeted killings" for some time

Thu, 2010-02-18 19:38 — AdamSGNJ

Mr Hasan, since you're generalising the issue of extra-judicial killings, would you be prepared to extend your condemnation to attacks perpetrated by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Iran, etc, and not just Israel and the West? Or is this just a rhetorical stick with which to beat a few of the "usual suspects" for a mysterious death in the Persian Gulf?

It's a fair question when you make the long leap from a specific case.

Thu, 2010-02-18 20:59 — Natepoleon (not verified)

I wish they had used my passport.

Fri, 2010-02-19 06:24 — Daniel Taghioff (not verified)

When will killing other humans be seen as killing other humans?

The Middle East has been the Crucible of Europe (i.e. white) / non-Europe (i.e. not) for so long, first for religious and now for energy reasons.

Yet the world keeps turning, Congo rages on, and so many die who do not count.

This characterises our complacency to the environment, because it is the (i.e. not) bunch that perish first. So unless we learn to answer the question Mehdi poses properly, we are headed for collapse.

Fri, 2010-02-19 11:16 — writeoff (not verified)

Did anyone here William Hague tutting at this on the Today programme? Humphrys asked him why, if he was condemning the 'extrajudicial killing' (ghastly phrase) of a man he considered a terrorist, does he not also condemn the 'targeted assassinations' of US drones firing rockets in Pakistan against people given the same designation. The silence was agonising.

Fri, 2010-02-19 23:46 — Wasim (not verified)

What outstounds me is that the European Jews suffered greatly and were persecuted for no other reason but for their religion....surely this is the very reason why I would expect Israel to understand that the correct way to resolve the mid east issue is through dialogue, understanding, concern and compassion for the Palestinians or should this not be an expectation because they (Jews) still feel sorry for themselves. Talk about double standards which is clearly perpetuated by the Jews and most of the western media. When is Islamaphobia going to be crime just as Antisemitism is??? or are we not human??? Israel are no different to the Jewish Persecutors....continue the killing and an eye for an eye trail of thought because based on numbers alone the Jewish population will be wiped out well before the Muslims...where is the sense???

Sat, 2010-02-20 03:58 — reaked

An act isn't defined as being right or wrong by the outcome.. an underhand assassination is morally questionable regardless of the victim!

I found it funny that Israel refused to comment or deny anything because of their policy of ambiguity! Who has a POLICY of AMBIGUITY!!??

In the West, as society is more settled and killing somewhat unnecessary we have very clear cut ideas and ideals on what is wrong. Hence if Western intelligence services decide to assassinate someone we will probably NEVER know about it or at least who did it.

In other parts of the world killing is much more common place and such societies are often condemned for such activity. Israel is unique in that it is arguably and extension of the West (perhaps the 52nd state of America) yet IN the Middle East. Consequently the resulting chimera is a nation that is prepared to kill but is unashamedly open about it! It has only been a year since the attack on Gaza with indiscriminate killing of women and children as soldiers have admitted even if the government won't!

There seems to be this consensus that Hamas are brutal murders, whereas I was under the impression they are the democratically elected party representing Palestine? Moreover these “terrorists” seems to have more respect for international law than Israel itself! Ken Livingstone’s interview with the Hamas leader should not be forgotten http://www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2009/09/israel-palestinian-hamas.

Thu, 2010-02-18 22:59 — Daniele1

Tom:
Here we go! Tom why can't you acknowledge that someone can be critical of Israel WITHOUT being a rabid antisemite?? So what are you saying? that if you object to the Israeli State committing murder and causing mayhem, you MUST be hating Jews and be antisemite?
Do you realise how objectionable this argument is? And how stupid?

Sun, 2010-02-21 07:59 — George D Lewis (not verified)

Israel and Mossad couldn't have have been involved in the assassination of Mahmound al-Mabhouh.

If Israel was responsible it would had cloned the passports of six of it's dual national citizens, making them pawns in the in the cloak and dagger game. Israel would never believe that the life of a Hamas official was worth damaging diplomatic relations with Great Britain, France and Germany. It would never put it's citizens in danger or risk losing European support at this critical time in world history for so little possible gain.

Mossad would have considered that the Dubai border controls had the technology to record the images of all visitors,on entry, making it possible to show the faces of those responsible for the assassination around the world. Mossad would never risk the outing of eleven agents to assassinate one individual. Mossad and their operatives are super cool like the James Bond movies . This caper is more like the Keystone Cops than the movie " Munich" .
It couldn't have been Mossad.

The witch hunt must be stopped and the nation and intelligence service responsible for this assassination identified. Israel and Mossad are capable responsible players on the world stage. They couldn't possibly be responsible for this blotched
and amateurish operation.

Sun, 2010-02-21 21:54 — Abdishakur (not verified)

Everybody knows that Mahdi has the intelligence and courage to write these type of articles. I really I admire him.

Sat, 2010-02-27 00:05 — reaked

@ Ovadhia

750,00 innocent civilians died in Afghanistan and estimated 100,000- 1 million in Iraq. So possibly 2 MILLION innocent CIVILIANS have been killed by trained SOLDIERS.

In case this is not clear, the RESPONSE to terrorism has killed MORE INNOCENTS then all terrorist attacks put TOGETHER!!!

Wed, 2010-02-17 18:41 — vanrisszcu

"Dave" - what do you mean?

Wed, 2010-02-17 18:38 — Dave (not verified)

Oh Mehdi...whats your oar in this matter?

Wed, 2010-02-17 18:43 — George (not verified)

The dead man was a committed man of violence against cilivian and military.

Live by the sword, die by it.

The world has reacted as it is because its sick of these religious Hamas type nutters murdering widely in the name of Allah.

Wed, 2010-02-17 18:54 — zionismisbad

If those who are murdered are Muslims then there will be no condemnation. However if a Jew is murdered then it will be condemmed from Washington to the Capitals of the European states to the Southern Continent.

When Muslims are kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan the media hardly notices, it's a different story if the above happens to a non-muslim.

Muslims are second class citizens of the World and have been for the last 200 years.

Wed, 2010-02-17 19:15 — Martin (not verified)

George -
So anyone suspected of a violent crime can be killed legitimately? Only a total moron or a committed facist would consider that justice - you should move to Israel, you'd fit right in.

Wed, 2010-02-17 19:41 — alan stoddart

Can never forget you're a Muslim can you Mehdi?..colours every thing you say and think. It was more probable that Iran or Syria killed him. But you'd not have anything to say about that....just as many Muslims seem happy to turn a blind eye to the religion of the people doing all the killing in Iraq....and it's not Bible bashing Americans...is it Mehdi?

Wed, 2010-02-17 20:58 — zionismisbad

@alan stoddart, you can't get past your hatred of Muslims can you?

As for turning a blind eye to the killing in Iraq, it wasn't Muslims dropping bombs in Iraq or Muslims breaking into propeles homes murdering all and gang raping children, it wasn't Muslims who illegaly blockaed shipments of basic medicine and baby food which led to the deaths of 600,000 Iraqi infants.

Wed, 2010-02-17 21:00 — zionismisbad

George what about the Zionist nutters who murdered thousands in Lebanon and Gaza and these Zionist nutters who believe they have a god given right to steal all of Palestine, isn't the World sick of them or are they OK for your sort as they are just killing Muslims.

Wed, 2010-02-17 21:03 — zionismisbad

George, what about the Zionist nutters who believe they have a God given right to steal all of Palestine, what about the mass murder they commited in Lebanon and Gaza isn't the World sick of them.

As for live by the Sword and die by the Sword, would you say the same if Hamas retaliated in kind.

Wed, 2010-02-17 21:24 — vanrisszcu

"Alan Stoddart - should I forget I'm a Muslim? Do you not want me to be Muslim? And if Iran killed the Hamas commander (sorry, I thought the accusation from people like you is that Iran sponsors Hamas?!?!) then why has the British government called in the Israeli ambassador for an explanation?

Wed, 2010-02-17 22:25 — Martin (not verified)

Great article Mehdi, thanks!

I think it's a real shame that rather than engage with your arguments someone has chosen to invoke the fact that you're a Muslim. What a worthless, sorry individual he must be. I'm surprised you could even be bothered to reply!

Keep up the good work,
Cheers, Martin

Wed, 2010-02-17 23:05 — Saranger (not verified)

But Mehdi Iran HAS been involved in assassination of dissisdents abroad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapour_Bakhtiar

Wed, 2010-02-17 23:46 — Martin (not verified)

Saranger - am I missing something..? Mehdi never said that they hadn't as far as I can see. Perhaps you should re-read the article.

Thu, 2010-02-18 01:25 — Ahmed R (not verified)

Well, the Zionist Apartheid regime has once again demonstrated how they are able treat the whole world with utter contempt on matters ranging from national sovereignty to human rights and blatantly placing their allies' subjects in harm’s way. They act as judge, juror and executioner in whomever they deem appropriate for their murderous treatment, irrespective of international law. Is it any wonder that Dubai is outraged; that Iran is seeking to safeguard it security against this oppressive power?