UK seeks ‘assurances’ before replacing expelled Mossad envoy

"We look to Israel to rebuild the trust we believe is required for the full and open relationship we would like," says Foreign Office spokesperson.

By JONNY PAUL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT
Suspected al-Mabhouh assassins 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Suspected al-Mabhouh assassins 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
LONDON – Britain will not allow a new Mossad representative into the country until Israel can provide a number of assurances that it hopes will help rebuild trust following the recent Dubai passport saga.
“We have had no approach from the Israelis about a replacement,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said on Tuesday. “However we look to Israel to rebuild the trust we believe is required for the full and open relationship we would like.”
Britain is insisting that Israel give “specific assurances,” which are said to include the pledge that British passports will not be used again by Israel in its operations, before a new Mossad representative is allowed into the UK.
“We have asked for specific assurances from Israel, which would clearlybe a positive step toward rebuilding that trust. Any Israeli requestfor the diplomat to be replaced would be considered against the contextof these UK requests,” the Foreign Office said.
Israel is concerned that if it were to make an assurance not to useBritish passports, it would be interpreted as a confession of havingused forged passports in the assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoudal-Mabhouh in Dubai in January.
In the aftermath of the incident, a Mossad representative in London was expelled following allegations to that effect.
Britain’s Foreign Minister David Miliband said at the time that therewere “compelling reasons” to believe Israel was behind the killing andordered the senior diplomat to leave the country.