This was quite a messy assassination

[Noobtastic]

passports were forged..

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=168902

id say this is just another case of smoke and mirrors.

i sincerely doubt the mossad would be this careless. i would not be surprised if this ordered by a pro-arab government, maybe egypt, jordan...possibly saudi arabia.

no way you can gain access into such a high level figure without the tacit approval of his entourage.

palestinians have a long history of killing each other.

 

[halik]

passports were forged..

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=168902

id say this is just another case of smoke and mirrors.

i sincerely doubt the mossad would be this careless. i would not be surprised if this ordered by a pro-arab government, maybe egypt, jordan...possibly saudi arabia.

no way you can gain access into such a high level figure without the tacit approval of his entourage.

palestinians have a long history of killing each other.

I'd bet the guy was just inconvenient and they pitched it onto israel. After reading about the 97 and 98 debacles, you'd think they'd use names that don't point back to israel SO blatantly?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Very interesting read....
britian, ireland and gernamy are disputing that a crack hit squad killed the Hamas commander.
Turns out the names and pictures of the crack hit squad also were pictures and maes of Israeli citizen living at the time of the assination in Israel.....
lets not forget the 2 palestinians who are also in custody....

Oh, whata tangled web we weave...

I will say in my opinion if "Mossad" did commit this act of patriotism....they did a damn good job of covering their bases...lolol

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_dubai_hamas_slaying

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A spy novel-worthy police narrative about the slaying of a Hamas commander brought uneasy questions for Dubai authorities Tuesday as their account of a crack hit squad from Europe ran into serious challenges from Britain, Ireland and Germany.

At least four people who live in Israel share names with suspects identified by Dubai police investigating the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Three of the four said they were not the people whose photos were made public by Dubai; a daughter of the fourth said the allegations were a mistake.

Even so, the purported link to Israel was likely to encourage Hamas and others to press their claims that the Mossad secret service masterminded the slaying.

Another twist added to the intrigue. Officials outside Dubai said at least two Palestinians linked to the case were in Dubai custody, leaving Hamas and its Western-backed Palestinian rivals trading bitter accusations.

Dubai authorities described an 11-member team that swooped into the Gulf city-state last month on a mission to kill al-Mabhouh and then fanned out with clockwork precision to Europe, Asia and South Africa in less than 24 hours.

Dubai's police chief, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, ran through the details at a news conference Monday, describing suspects who donned fake beards or wigs and shadowed al-Mabhouh so closely they even rode in the same elevator with him at a luxury hotel.

The wanted list was topped by an alleged mastermind carrying a French passport and others traveling on European passports: six British, three Irish and a German.

But it quickly came under dispute.
read on..there is more...

 

[Miramonti]

Quick denials by people/nations fingered...no forking way!!! Two possible Palestinian spys involved...not possible!!!

Probably as much time went into preparing the post-murder response in advance as went into designing the assassination assignment.

Personally I think it's all a coincidence coupled with video manipulation, and the real cause of death was suicide.

Direct link to 27 min. video compilation of accused surveillance/hit squad members in action

 

[SamurAchzar]

I can understand they had devices that owned the hotel door locks, what I can't understand however is how they latched the doors from the outside. This is a very high quality work, anyone that thinks an organization is like Hamas is responsible for this is deluding himself.

 

[lothar]

Repost.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2051245

 

[Dari]

I will say it again, these types of operations should be carried out in friendly countries. Even better would be hostile countries where it is highly doubtful that it would be reported. According to a CNN article, Israel supposedly tried to kill this guy twice before, in Syria and Lebanon. Doing it in a country that is neither hostile or friendly can lead to something like this.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1150424.html

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday said that there was no proof Israel's Mossad spy agency was behind the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai last month, after it emerged that some members of the hit squad involved in the killing had used the identities of foreign-born Israelis.

Lieberman did not deny outright Israeli involvement in the killing of Hamas's Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel, saying only that Israel has a "policy of ambiguity" on intelligence matters and there was no proof it was behind the assassination.

"There is no reason to think that it was the Israeli Mossad, and not some other intelligence service or country up to some mischief," Lieberman said when asked about the operation and the identity-theft. Rafi Eitan, a former government minister and high-ranking Mossad official, denied Israel's involvement flat-out.

"The Mossad was not behind the assassination of Mahmoud el- Mabhouh, but rather a foreign organization that is trying to frame Israel," he told the radio station.

Men with the same names as seven of the 11 suspects whose European passport photos were distributed by Dubai this week reside in Israel, and those reached by reporters insisted their identities had been stolen and noted the pictures were not a match.

Six of the men are Britons who immigrated to Israel. The seventh is an American Israeli, whose name Dubai said was on a German passport used by one of the assassins.

As the mystery over suspects' identities deepened, Britain and Ireland said they believed the British and Irish passports used by the alleged killers were forged.

In the radio interview, Lieberman shrugged off any prospect of diplomatic problems with Britain over suspicions a Mossad team had used counterfeit British passports.

"I think Britain recognizes that Israel is a responsible country and that our security activity is conducted according to very clear, cautious and responsible rules of the game. Therefore we have no cause for concern," he said.

Hit squads dispatched by Mossad have used foreign passports in the past, notably in 1997 when agents entered Jordan on Canadian passports and bungled an attempt to kill Hamas leader Khaled Meshal with poison.

In 1987, Britain protested to Israel about what London called the misuse by Israeli authorities of forged British passports and said it received assurances steps had been taken to prevent future occurrences.

Dubai narrows down six more suspects

Dubai police have meanwhile narrowed down another six suspects in addition to the 11 European passport-holders named earlier this week, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The names of the additional six have yet to be released and the actual identities of the other 11 suspects are still in question.

Dubai Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim announced on Monday that senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was murdered by an 11-member hit squad of mercenaries carrying European passports.

Tamim said that arrest warrants would be issued soon and while he did not accuse Israel directly, he did say it was possible that "leaders of certain countries gave orders to their intelligence agents."

"We do not rule out Mossad, but when we arrest those suspects we will know who masterminded it. [We have not] issued arrest warrants yet, but will do so soon," he told a press conference on Monday.

Two Palestinians have already been arrested in connection to the assassination.

The group was responsible for killing Mabhouh in his hotel room on January 20, a slaying that has elicited vows of revenge from the Palestinian militant group.

 

[Fern]

How the heck are they gonna issue arrest warrents? They don't even know their real names or nationality.

I wonder how long before some TV show picks this up and reworks it into a story for one of their episodes.

Fern

 

[PokerGuy]

I don't think there's too much doubt it was the Mossad behind the murder.....

 

[jacko49]

They are brave heroes.

that clean the scum from the earth,wish they were more of cleaning,and less hypocritical gov. (European)lips service

 

[JEDIYoda]

Ya just gotta love Mossad!!! Damned if they did do it and damned if they didn`t do it...yet all agree the mission was accomplished whoever undertook the assisnation!!


JERUSALEM – Israeli security officials said Wednesday they were convinced the Mossad was behind the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai and harshly criticized the spy agency for allegedly stealing the identities of its own citizens to carry out the hit.

Names released by Dubai matched seven people living in Israel, raising questions about why the agency would endanger its own people by using their passport data as cover for a secret death squad.

At the same time, some Israeli experts said the Dubai evidence pointed to a setup to falsely blame Israel. -- if that`s the case then we have another major player on the scene who has some very big cahones!!

A vague comment from Israel's foreign minister, who neither confirmed nor denied Mossad's involvement, only added to the spy novel-like mystery surrounding the slaying of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was found dead Jan. 20 at a luxury hotel near Dubai's international airport.

"Israel never responds, never confirms and never denies," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in Israel's first official comment on the affair, then added: "I don't know why we are assuming that Israel, or the Mossad, used those passports."

Some senior Israeli security officials not directly involved in the case were less circumspect, saying they were convinced it was a Mossad operation because of the motive — Israel says al-Mabhouh supplied Gaza's Hamas rulers with their most dangerous weapons — and the use of Israeli citizens' identities.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a government order not to discuss the case, characterized the operation as a significant Mossad bungle.

If it develops into a full-blown security scandal, that could harm Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically.

Some compared the case to another Mossad embarrassment during Netanyahu's previous term as prime minister, the failed attempt to kill Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in 1997. Two Mossad agents posing as Canadian tourists were captured after injecting Mashaal with poison, and Israel was forced to send an antidote that saved Mashaal's life. Today Mashaal is Hamas' supreme leader.

Still, there was praise for the Dubai operation from some analysts who noted the major difference between it and the Mashaal case is that the latter failed and the former achieved its goal — the assassination of a Hamas commander.

"Al-Mabhouh is dead and all the partners to the operation left Dubai safely," wrote analyst Ronen Bergman of the Yediot Ahronot newspaper.
There`s more--read on....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_dubai...lYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDaXNyYWVsaXNjb252

 

[Noobtastic]

why would the mossad use passports of ISRAELI citizens?

it seems more likely arab assassins would use passports of israelis to make everyone think israel was behind the job.

this simply isnt consistent with mossad's modus operandi.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I will say it again, these types of operations should be carried out in friendly countries. Even better would be hostile countries where it is highly doubtful that it would be reported. According to a CNN article, Israel supposedly tried to kill this guy twice before, in Syria and Lebanon. Doing it in a country that is neither hostile or friendly can lead to something like this.

so where is the proof...or isd this more of dari making up headlines he goes???

 

[werepossum]

Assuming it was Mossad - congrats!

Assuming it was a rival Palestinian gang - hope Hamas retaliates.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Well this thing is becoming more bizarre by the moment, especially with the reveal that the names on the passports used belong to Israelis or foreign citizens living in Israel.

This prompts a very big "What the hell" question, if indeed this was a work of the Mossad.

 

[Dari]

Well this thing is becoming more bizarre by the moment, especially with the reveal that the names on the passports used belong to Israelis or foreign citizens living in Israel.

This prompts a very big "What the hell" question, if indeed this was a work of the Mossad.

They've done it before (at least to the British). Look at the Haaretz article I posted.

 

[poohbear]

1973........ok you got me....but still 1973...
and in reference to the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics....

so touche..

jediyoda u seem to have this image of the world that is so fictional, and when other people shatter that fiction all u say is, "ok u got me". Rethink the way u see the world man, Mossad is NOT invincible & jsut as monstrous as the people they fight, Israel is NOT a victim, and rabbits are NOT sex toys for your pleasure. sheesh get w/ it.

 

[Miramonti]

I'd love to know why a senior Hamas military commander was traveling alone...

 

[JEDIYoda]

jediyoda u seem to have this image of the world that is so fictional, and when other people shatter that fiction all u say is, "ok u got me". Rethink the way u see the world man, Mossad is NOT invincible & jsut as monstrous as the people they fight, Israel is NOT a victim, and rabbits are NOT sex toys for your pleasure. sheesh get w/ it.

poohbear you need to pull that telephone poll out of your ass before you hurt yourself....

Since when do you know what I think?
You don`t and never will...my thoughts are so beyond you it`s not even funny reading what you think I think.

He did get me...
Of course I knew about that...
But you know comparatively speaking, Mossad is very good at what they are trained to do....
Did I say Mossad was invincvible? Of course not unless you have a reading comprehension problem or possibly they have not taught you in grade school to comprehend what you read.......

Your new to this whole thing aren`t you?

What a confused child you must be to make such a statement as-- rabbits are NOT sex toys for your pleasure.....if you think that rabbits are sex toys...hmmmmm

Did anybody say that Israel was a victim?? It takes two to tango; you really need to read up on the middle east and this whole Israel..Palestinian, Hamas...etc, etc...

If you believe your words are true then I would encourage you with the help of your parents to post links backing up the childish diatribe that you have just posted.....

For now two words -- Check mate!!

 

[Zebo]

Who gives a fuck? This was a big time murderous POS who got what was commin' and it sucks attention he's getting. Like some saint or something.

 

[lothar]

Authorities in Dubai have arrested two Palestinians in the al-Mabhouh slaying. Hamas' Fatah rivals in the West Bank have alleged that Hamas moles helped the killers.

Hamas officials have countered that the Syria-based al-Mabhouh was careless, booking his trip through the Internet and informing his Gaza family of the name of the Dubai hotel where he planned to stay. The family denied al-Mabhouh gave them information.

Hamas also denied media reports that two al-Mabhouh aides in Damascus were sought for questioning about the assassination. Instead, Hamas has alleged that the two Palestinians in custody in Dubai had links to Fatah.

Update.
Also, the wanted list has now increased to 26.

 

[herkulease]

finally found the thread about this. These guys are just terrible. Are they that blind not to notice a camera? Some practically look right into it. hey look at me.

 

[PJABBER]

Update.
Also, the wanted list has now increased to 26.

The latest undercurrent of information is that it was an Iranian ordered hit after certain Palestinian arms sales kickbacks were not paid out on a timely basis.

The hit was contracted out to the Syrians in exchange for certain additional commitments by the Iranians that they would directly involve Iranian troops in mutual attacks against Israel proper (previously just supplied trainers and "observers" while the Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians did the bad deeds.)

The Syrians further sub-contracted the actual hit to avoid exposure in case it went bad. The sub-sub contractor apparently is a European/Mid-East/Asian/African ad-hoc direct action group that is commercial and not specifically political. It also seems that prior suspected group projects have been at least partially funded by Palestinian money, channeled again by Syria. Got to love those charitable donations going to aid the downtrodden Palestinians! They really know how to turn charity into profitable arms deals!

Most of the people caught on camera are independent contractors that were apparently brought in to provide in-depth site surveillance and, if need be, to distract LE, should they get involved. Considering the number of people seemingly involved, this was quite an expensive operation and may have been after multiple targets of opportunity as well as the primary target.

While the outside and technical support was done by contractors, ever more likely conjecture is that it was several Iranian trained Palestinians (affiliation unclear at this point, but likely Hamas itself or Fatah) that did the actual kill. Credits forthcoming.

The Iranians have been milking the Mossad story line, thus getting two benefits from one hit - they got to kill their wayward Hamas counterparty and blame the Israelis for it.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad is going to meet President Assad of Syria, President Nasrallah of Lebanon and Hamas political secretary Khaled Meshaal today in Damascus. Under discussion is the formal agreement of a four way military alliance to attack Israel in the case Israel strikes Iranian nuclear weapons development sites.

The hit timing was to set part of the stage for getting all parties to engage in fruitful discussion of the practicalities of what is expected to be another war in the Mid-East.

 

[JS80]

jediyoda u seem to have this image of the world that is so fictional, and when other people shatter that fiction all u say is, "ok u got me". Rethink the way u see the world man, Mossad is NOT invincible & jsut as monstrous as the people they fight, Israel is NOT a victim, and rabbits are NOT sex toys for your pleasure. sheesh get w/ it.

You are right they are so monstrous. Instead they should have strapped bombs to their chest and blown him up in a very busy McDonald's like civilized people.

 

[Narmer]

The latest undercurrent of information is that it was an Iranian ordered hit after certain Palestinian arms sales kickbacks were not paid out on a timely basis.

The hit was contracted out to the Syrians in exchange for certain additional commitments by the Iranians that they would directly involve Iranian troops in mutual attacks against Israel proper (previously just supplied trainers and "observers" while the Syrians, Lebanese and Palestinians did the bad deeds.)

The Syrians further sub-contracted the actual hit to avoid exposure in case it went bad. The sub-sub contractor apparently is a European/Mid-East/Asian/African ad-hoc direct action group that is commercial and not specifically political. It also seems that prior suspected group projects have been at least partially funded by Palestinian money, channeled again by Syria. Got to love those charitable donations going to aid the downtrodden Palestinians! They really know how to turn charity into profitable arms deals!

Most of the people caught on camera are independent contractors that were apparently brought in to provide in-depth site surveillance and, if need be, to distract LE, should they get involved. Considering the number of people seemingly involved, this was quite an expensive operation and may have been after multiple targets of opportunity as well as the primary target.

While the outside and technical support was done by contractors, ever more likely conjecture is that it was several Iranian trained Palestinians (affiliation unclear at this point, but likely Hamas itself or Fatah) that did the actual kill. Credits forthcoming.

The Iranians have been milking the Mossad story line, thus getting two benefits from one hit - they got to kill their wayward Hamas counterparty and blame the Israelis for it.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad is going to meet President Assad of Syria, President Nasrallah of Lebanon and Hamas political secretary Khaled Meshaal today in Damascus. Under discussion is the formal agreement of a four way military alliance to attack Israel in the case Israel strikes Iranian nuclear weapons development sites.

The hit timing was to set part of the stage for getting all parties to engage in fruitful discussion of the practicalities of what is expected to be another war in the Mid-East.

The snag in this fairytale is that Syria and Iran are allies. If they wanted him dead, they could have killed him in Syria where he came from and it would have been far more secret than what we're seeing.