The Bustan Rotana Hotel, until a month ago, was known among Dubai residents as a destination for good sushi and old fashioned entertainment. It was the quiet yet classy option; an old gem mingling with a plethora of newer glitzy caravanserais. With a few decent restaurants and functional bars, its primary claim to fame in recent times was a proximity to the Irish Village, a faux Dublin street offering yet another stomping ground to purveyors of ale or lager. Hops at the bottom or the top; to each his fancy.
Then, Mahmoud al Mabhouh, the senior Hamas military commander complicit in the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and instrumental in maintaining a flow of weapons to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, decided to use it as a stop-over. So did a team of assassins who collaboratively pulled off perhaps the most clinical murder Dubai has ever had the umbrage of witnessing on its turf.
Al Mabhouh's actual method of death is unclear. He was either electrocuted, poisoned, strangulated or suffocated. Any permutation or combination of the above. The UAE authorities have little doubt of the identity of the assassins though. Daily newspaper The National quoted Dubai Police flatly noting the political assassination was carried out to a "Mossad method".
Days later, the Dubai police showed CCTV footage of the members of the hit team. Al Mabouh was a dead man from the time he entered Dubai on Emirates flight EK912. He was tailed from the airport to the hotel and even up to his room by hit men alternately clad in tourist casuals or tennis whites. One member booked a room right opposite his at the Bustan Rotana, while others acted in various capacities. If nothing else, the operation was clinical. By the time Al Mabouh was discovered in the confines of room 230, the hit squad had long left town.
Arrest warrants were put out to Interpol for the ten men and one woman directly involved in Al Mabhouh's murder. The truth surfaced a day later. All the assassins had identities pilfered from genuine people -- citizens who had no idea how neatly they had been tied to espionage and murder. The Guardian reports that three of the European identities used by the killers were stolen from Britons living in Israel. In all passport details of 11 people were compromised -- six from Britain, three from Ireland and one apiece from France and Germany.
Israel is, of course, keeping its own counsel as per its policy of deliberate ambiguity in foreign affairs. But the threads tie together in a fairly conclusive knot. The six Britons are all dual citizens resident in Israel. The Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has gone out of his way not to deny Israeli involvement. And Israel has precedent when it comes to cheap thriller-esque spy games. Recall Munich. Then remember the bungled attempt to kill Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal in Amman, Jordan, 1997, when agents tried spraying a nerve agent in his ear. Canadian identities were part of the modus operandi then.
The attack is ipso facto a blatant breach of international law. It is also a fairly steep embarrassment to Dubai, which offers open visitation rights for citizens of 36 countries to massage its essential tourism industry. But did the assassination, conducted with supremely blatant disregard for international boundaries or legal apparatuses, benefit Israel more than the inevitable costs?
Al Mabhouh was certainly valuable to Hamas as a strategist as well as conduit. But he will be replaced -- perhaps with someone even more professional. There is the additional benefit of burnishing Mossad's reputation as exceptional in carrying out attrition against perceived enemies. But Mossad's reputation required little help prior to Al Mabhouh's demise. It has long been seen as one of the most effective intelligence and execution apparatuses in the world. Yet that reputation is no deterrent to people hostile or desperate enough to gamble with their lives. Mossad's ability to kill targets hasn't led Hamas or Hezbollah to cower or cover. Neither has it catalyzed a solution, or even a peace process. A reputation for the sake of a reputation is rather pointless. Israel is no safer nor better liked because Mossad and the Kidon are effective at homicides.
Israel is facing the collective ire of Britain over its citizens' stolen identities, Germany for the same reason, Austria where the mobile phones used by the hit squad originated, and Dubai which unwittingly played host to the final chapter of a Kiddon whodunit.
There is little Dubai can do, because it has no diplomatic relationships with Mossad central. But Britian et al are spitting diplomatic fire and brimstone. As Israel becomes an increasing embarrassment to the international community, it may start to receive less of the carte blanche that it considers its birthright.
In the meanwhile, things proceed as they always have; with Israeli ambiguity, Hamas outrage, Mossad effectiveness, Dubai's wounded pride and no recipe for the Israeli Palestinian cauldron boiling in the Middle East's nexus.
I drove past the Bostan Rotana the other day. It no longer seems like an innocuous place for good sushi in proximity to an ale-drinker's paradise. Whatever else, that ostentatiously exotic Kidon homicide has managed that.
Follow Hisham Wyne on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hishamwyne
It was a covert operation that has the Mossad fingerprint all over it, still, whether or not it was the Mossad, I doubt that there was a breach of any specific international law, but I stand corrected. There was certainly a beach of the Dubai Law, both criminal code and immigration law but that is to be expected in covert operation of that naure.
Israel has a policy of "targeted killing" of terrorist that cannot be captured, the aim is to disrupt the leadership of terrorist organisation by forcing the "targets" to constantly take evasive measures, thus the disruption occurs whether or not the target is actually caught. Admittedly, there is an element of revenge in that policy, but hey, this is the Middle East, in any event it is of secondary.importance (to Israel).
Hamas & Hezbollah will bluster, but they continue to cower in fear. And since we in the US owe Hezbollah for bombing the US marines in Beirut (there on a peacekeeping mission), we should send a thank you note to Mossad.
Too bad. With 99+% of the land in the middle east under Muslim control, you would think that Hamas & Hez. would have other things to do, like raising the standard of living of their people. I guess its not a priority.
I hate to bring this up because everyone's comments have been cordial (so far).
However, I'm sure I am not the first to notice the connection of Identity theft, in relation to the Dubai hit team, and many of the 9/11 hi-jackers. Both events include innocent individuals whose identities were stolen (or borrowed) in a similar fashion. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks several news outlets, including the BBC reported that 6-8 (reports vary) of the 'alleged' hi-jackers were alive and well - all victims of a identity theft. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1559151.stm
I'm sure this practice isn't limited to Mossad alone, but they have a well documented history of borrowing Identities and Nationalities, just ask the Canadians, British and Kiwis (to name a few).
"However, I'm sure I am not the first to notice the connection of Identity theft, in relation to the Dubai hit team, and many of the 9/11 hi-jackers. Both events include innocent individuals whose identities were stolen (or borrowed) in a similar fashion."
You seem to be insinuating that Mossad might have had a hand in 9/11, which honestly seems far-stretched and is not backed by evidence. I have a hard time accepting this argument.
I assume identity theft is a fairly common practice when it comes to cases of terrorism or organized crime, and like you mentioned, not limited to Mossad.
irrespective of what it is called, these identites were disposed of once their "borrowers" left Dubai which makes it a lot different from a criminal identity theft as we know it
Now that all concerned know that those passport were forged, the individuals whose identity were assumed are at the clear. In other words no innocent victims.
Your question about whether or not this deed has benefited the nation that many are accusing of being responsible is interesting. Political assassinations as you point out are not terribly effective at stopping any kind of resistance movement when there is always a pool of new candidates for replacement. Even the top commanders can be replaced, if not easily, at least with new persons who may be even more extreme than their predecessors. You point this out also in your piece. One of the best ways for any nation, the US or otherwise to address insurgencies, occupations, resistance movements or even internal labor unrest or political opposition is to address the root core grievances for the common good of everyone in the society. Killing leaders, targeting or carelessly, negligently killing civilian populations as a means of collective punishment, continuing or increasing the course that has created the grievances in the first place is not the best choice of action for ANY govt., anywhere. We are supposed to be better than that in the 21st century, to be beyond the injustices of the old colonial empires, but it looks as if we are not. The detective police work in Dubai & making the results of the investigation immediately public were KEY factors. Otherwise the European govts. might have been tempted to downplay or pressured to hush it up. Once it's out on the international media, online, even AP & ABC have to say something, albeit reluctantly.
You sum up my argument succinctly and make interesting points of your own. The NYT and Guardian have both noted that the mood immediately after the assasination was congratulatory in Israel - wink wink, nod nod, good job.
It was when Dubai started pursuing the matter and Britian et al jumped onto the bandwagon as they realized their citizens' welfare had been jeopardized that the mood turned sombre. Realization hit, both inside and outside Israel that the assasination may not have accomplished all that much, while subjecting Israel's international standing to further battering.
And i think the proper procedure would be for him to be arrested and handed over to the ICC for prosecution.
Assassination, however, is a bad business. It can backfire on the nation that institutes it (Israeli leaders in this case are made more vulnerable). The assassins can make a mistake and kill the wrong person, (this happened when the Mossad tried to assassinate the perpetrators of the Munich Olympian massacre.-- Rather difficult to rectify your mistake if you kill the wrong person).
And finally, if nations are going to pursue this course, can Israel really complain if Hamas assassinates the IDF Chief of Staff or Defense Minister for the war crimes committed in Gaza?
And really Talossa, I can't quite seeing you being so sympathetic to arrest and extradition if the tables had turned and Hamas had requested Dubai to arrest Tzipi Livni for her role in the Gaza offensive last year, for example.
Ahh..... al Mabhouh had conviction already?
These Mossad jobs are always about revenge. Revenge will get Israel nowhere. Have some empathy and listen to the genuine grievances of your enemy.
The man who was killed, by someone, was no saint. He has been linked to the killing of children and many others. He has been in jail in Egypt. There are rival groups among Palestinians which might have been involved. Remember, this was an experienced and skilled *operative*. It is hard to believe that he would not have had someone surveying the areas where he was operating in for safeguard. As anyaone who has ever had his/her ID stolen knows, it could be anyone, and it is more often than not impossible to trace or prove a thing. One can only take measures to protect the further criminal use of one's ID. For the Mossad to use jewish ID's and so implicate jews, or Israel, is highly unlikely from an intelligence point of view. It is also improbable from a religious point of view. There are groups which are devoted solely with tarring the image of Israel and jews.Mossad is not one of those.
Fatah and Hamas trade accusations over Dubai assassination
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/02/middle-east-region-reels-from-mabhouh-assasination-fallout.html
It's not the first time Hamas has blamed Fatah for the assassination of one of their leaders: alah Bardaweel, a Hamas legislator and spokesman, accused Abbas of playing a "major role" in the assassination of Said Siam and the military offensive against Hamas.
Obviously in retaliation for:
Hamas throwing Fatah member off roof in Gaza http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c67_1188887407&c=1
Also, since many Palestinians view Fatah as being collaborationist with Israel, they will believe that Fatah did this at Israel's bidding.
But the BIG obstruction to peace negotiations at this point isn't Hamas, it is the continued settlement expansion, which is opposed by Fatah AND the US.
As long as those settlements keep expanding, Fatah, and ANY Palestinian with an ounce of sense will believe (with good reason) that the current Israeli government --dominated by the settler movement, has no REAL intention of withdrawal from the settlements in order to make room for a Palestinian state.
There is no way in hell that the Mossad used the names of Israelis on passports.
Aside from the fact that it leaves a clear trail to Israel, it's actually illegal for the Mossad to do so under Israeli law.
But, aside from all this mystery; Who cares about a murderous terrorist meeting his just end?
In the meanwhile, he who was a terrorist to you might not have been to others. Recall that some IDF actions in Gaza fall fairly close to terrorism inasmuch as terrorism is defined as targetting innocent individuals, civilians and soft targets.
But this is not the debate here. I am trying to understand how this assasination proves beneficial for Israel despite an obvious diplomatic cost.
I am also trying to give this a human angle, as a Dubai resident. You have chosen to completely ignore these points.
If this individual WAS a terrorist (and the proof is...?) then the proper procedure is arrest, trial, and imprisonment if there is a conviction.
Also, I am pretty sure Dubai has laws against assassination.
According to who? All I know is that he'd planned the kidnapping and killing of two IDF soldiers. That what HE had confessed to doing. All other claims are made by Israel Hasbara (propaganda) and I'm not buying them. I'm not saying they're not true. I'm refusing to accept that just because Mossad killed somebody, then he must have been a rightful target. This is law of the jungle. It's amazing that in the aftermath of the disastrous presidency of Bush, human right activists are after the current administration to prosecute those who'd OKed torture and renditions. (Cheney and co). Even while dealing with "terrorists" (I take liberty in dismissing that term altogether because MSM and Officials refused to call Joseph Stack a terrorist, even though he definitely is), there is a legal due process. You can't send assassins to off your political/militant adversaries on third party's land. That's ridiculous. Because by your logic, Hamas and Hezbollah could be justified in targeting IDF officers abroad since they think they also are 'terrorists'. (given the track record in Gaza, Lebanon and Genin refugee camp/)
It's a good thing real murder cases don't work that way, otherwise we'd never convict anyone.
Either the rule of law applies to EVERYONE or NO ONE.
As I said above, the proper procedure is to ARREST, TRY, CONVICT, and IMPRISON.
Not to resort to becoming murderous thugs.
The only thing that occurs to me by way or response and reaction is the speech that Robert Kennedy gave the day after Martin Luther King was assassinated (not that I am comparing Mahmoud al Mabhouh to MLK) --but the theme is one which is all too appropriate to this act -- and to this conflict in general.
Here is the full text: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Speeches/RFK/138RFK3SEN21SPEECHES_68APR05.htm
and here is an excerpt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Vll-t0H6A