Israel Feels the Diplomatic Heat over Hit Squad

LONDON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- A diplomatic row is threatening to erupt over last month's assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh as Dubai's police force directly pointed the finger at Mossad, Israel's spy agency, for being behind the slaying.

Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim said that he was "99, if not 100 percent" sure that Mossad was involved in the murder of al-Mabhouh, Tamim told The National newspaper, which is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. In the Dubai-based Gulf News, he added that "All elements strongly indicate the involvement of the Mossad."

The number of suspects in the case rose to 18 today, and pressure is intensifying on Israel to answer questions about the killing, which took place Jan. 19. His body was found in his Dubai hotel room the following day and a preliminary forensic report found that he was suffocated after being paralyzed by an electric shock. A full report will be completed in a month's time.

Interpol has issued "Red Notices" for the 11 internationally-wanted individuals who have been charged by the UAE and Dubai police. The United States has also been pulled into the case, with Emirati authorities accusing the alleged killers of using fraudulent passports to open credit cards accounts via U.S.-based banks.

This morning, the UK and the Republic of Ireland governments summoned their Israeli ambassadors to answer questions over the use of faked British and Irish passports in al-Mahbhouh's assassination.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Minister David Miliband both said this morning the British government is conducting a full investigation into how details from British passport holders were fraudulently used, but stopped short of pointing the finger directly at Israel.

"I think this is a matter of investigation. We've got to know that facts," Brown said today. 'It's an investigation that's got to take place before conclusions are drawn."