Passports and murder - Israel’s indifference

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin will confront Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Brussels this morning over the use of fake Irish passports by the Mossad agents believed to have murdered Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

It would be proper to expect that Mr Martin – already denied permission to visit Gaza by Israel – and his English, French and German counterparts, would get a satisfactory explanation but Israel’s record of indifference to international censure suggests he may not.

This indifference has allowed Israel treat some of its neighbours and citizens with appalling cruelty.

That indifference has now extended to the safety of European Union passport holders. Sometimes, if censure is not accepted it must be imposed.

Israel has taken another unwise step towards that point.