Scandal over Mossad use of UK passports curiously fails to materialise with Britons awe struck at Israeli daring
There is something very strange going on in Britain, and Israel’s detractors are hopping mad. Not, I hasten to add over the apparent use by the Mossad of six British passports in the assassination in Dubai of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Criticism on that score is both reasonable and necessary. No country can allow its passports to be used by a foreign state, let alone in the course of a secret service hit job. Britain is no exception.
What vexes them is not so much the use of the passports per se as the fact that the kind of hyserical public furore that we have come to expect whenever a stick presents itself for the beating of Israel has singularly failed to materialise. On the contrary, large sections of the British press have responded with barely disguised awe at the audacious operation that the Israelis had the balls to carry out.
The usual suspects in the Guardian and the BBC look uncommonly isolated. Witness BBC MidEast Editor Jeremy Bowen on World Service Television this morning.
A dour and subdued looking Bowen was asked to reflect on the effect the affair might have on the UK’s already strained relationship with the Jewish state but was only able to warn of “very severe” consequences at some vague point in the future if the allegations were proved to be correct.
Seumas Milne, a regular columnist for the Guardian and one of the most fanatical opponents of Israel in the British press, was almost tearful at the sheer refusal of both the media and the government to jump to attention in the usual manner. Writing in today’s Guardian he said:
“…instead of setting off a diplomatic backlash, the British government sat on its hands for almost a week after it was reportedly first passed details of the passport abuse. And while the Foreign Office finally summoned the Israeli ambassador to “share information”, rather than protest, Gordon Brown could yesterday only promise a “full investigation”.
“In parallel with this languid official response, most of the British media has treated the assassination more as a ripping spy yarn than a bloody scandal which has put British citizens at greater risk by association with Mossad death squads. It was an “audacious hit”, the Daily Mail enthused, straight out of a “Frederick Forsyth page-turner”, while the Times revelled in an attack that resembled nothing so much as a “well-plotted murder mystery”. Running throughout all this is a breathless awe at Mossad’s reputation for ruthless brilliance in seeking out and destroying Israel’s enemies.”
Milne is right. The public mood in Britain is remarkably pro-Israeli on this issue. Consider an opinion piece in the Times today by Melanie Reid tellingly headlined: “We’re all thrilled by Mossad the movie.” In the course of her article, Reid says:
“What the secret agents did — and, critically, what we saw them do — was compelling and breathtaking in its cleverness. Box office, in other words.”
And, she goes on:
“It is an unfashionable thing to say, but I have a considerable admiration for the Israeli way of doing things. They want something, they get it. They perceive someone as their deadly enemy, they kill them. They get hit, they hit back. They don’t waste time explaining or justifying or agonising; nor do they allow their detractors to enter their country and then afford them generous welfare payments. They just act. No messing. No scruples. Not even a shrug and a denial, just a rather magnificent refusal to debate anything.”
But there’s more:
“I’ve felt this way ever since the Entebbe raid in 1976, an occasion when the Israelis showed Hollywood a thing or two. After two Palestinians and two Germans had hijacked an aircraft on a flight that had originated in Israel, the Israeli army simply swooped in, killed the hijackers and freed all but three of the hostages. It was decisive, bloody and clever. Lieutenant-Colonel “Yoni” Netanyahu, the older brother of the present Prime Minister, Binyamin, was the only commando killed in the fighting.”
And more:
“Maybe, as the West becomes increasingly gentle and polite, and pays those monthly direct debits to Amnesty International, we need the Israelis to remind us that the world is not made according to our template. Maybe that is why we are drawn towards tales of uncompromising, ruthless derring-do. How else to explain the veneration of the SAS, the worldwide glut of books and movies on covert operations?
“One last point. Usually, in comedy heist movies, no one gets killed. Somewhere a family is weeping at the death of Mr al-Mabhouh and no one takes any pleasure from that. But the people who die in Mossad operations tend to be, like the Hamas leader, morally compromised. There’s a side to us that acknowledges that some assassins’ victims may have had it coming to them. So we’re appalled, but not so appalled that we don’t look forward with relish to the sequel. Ultimately, this is less about siding with the Israelis than loving winners.”
There is a lesson in all this, and it is a refreshing one. I spend a lot of time on this website expounding on the depth and breadth of UK (and wider European) hostility to Israel. Late last year I published a book on it. But as I say in the book and as I now repeat here in this article, the battle for Europe’s soul is still an open one.
Britain in particular is a 50-50 nation: as much the country of Churchill as of Chamberlain, as much the country of the proud and steadfast defender of democracy as of the mindless appeaser cringing and grovelling before terrorists and tyrannies.
It doesn’t always seem that way, particularly since the elite institutions of this country are so much more in thrall to the thinking of the second of those two alternatives than the first. But there is another Britain, and sometimes it shows its face.
How curious that on precisely the occasion when Britain really does have reason to be critical of the Israelis that different face of Britain should decide to come out and show itself.
To read the Times op-ed referred to, click here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/melanie_reid/article7031188.ece
To read the Guardian column referred to, click here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/18/dubai-hamas-murder-uk-israeli-ambassador
To purchase my book, A State Beyond the Pale, click here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/State-Beyond-Pale-Europes-Problem/dp/0297856642/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Tags: Israel
February 18th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Interesting – its good to see that there are apparently sane people outside the Guardian’s charmed circle who think this was a daring and good thing!!
Melanie Reid’s article was fantastic, and reflects, I think, the frustration of millions in the West at the supine attempts to force us to accept any Islamic horror as merely a matter of equally valid but different cultural values. Removing this man from the gene pool is no loss to civilization, whoever did it.
And even if it wasn’t the Mossad, it certainly helps Israel to have people like him believe that the Mossad can, if it wishes, get hold of them at any time and any place.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
It is a true joy to see the discomfort of the most anti Israel newspaper in the UK, The Guardian.
Indeed Shameless Milne is weeping with frustration.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I agree that no country can allow its passports to be used by a foreign state. But I’m sure you will agree that it’s common practice for various state spy agencies to do just that, including Britain. So yesn there needs to be a public objection, but behind doors practicality rules.
This is another example of Israel acting decicively to protect its interests. Nothing more.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
It may amuse the ‘Brits’ to read what they consider to be Mossad’s derring do but it can unravel quite alarmingly when they discover, if they ever do, that it wasn’t Mossad after all. I can’t believe Mossad would be that silly to fake passports of Israeli citizens for such a purpose and passports of a ‘friendly’ State at that.
The Six Day War, the capture of Eichman,Entebbe and Yom Kippur War were all considered daring and heroic. Where have those admiring voices been lately?
February 18th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
In the BBC’s latest web article, there’s apoplectic outrage from the government and Jeremy Bowen about the use of forged passports. Of course there’s not the slightest mention of what al-Mabhouh was up to …
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8521246.stm
Note how that impartial observer, George Galloway, gets the last word.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
There is a strong feeling in Dubai that this was the work of Hamas and a power struggle. I believe Mossad is far to clever to be compromised either by the passports (all living in Israel?) or the phoney disguises. What I can’t understand is our government and Interpol agreeing to issue arrest warrants on behalf of a country that doesn’t believe in human rights. Once again it’s one law for the Israelis and another for the Islamists.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
“On the contrary, large sections of the British press have responded with barely disguised awe at the audacious operation that the Israelis had the balls to carry out.”
I don’t know how representative they are of British public opinion, but the majority of comments on a piece about Meir Dagan at the Daily Telegraph are, at this writing, more than somewhat positive about Israel’s actions. Here are a few of them:
1) “More excellent work by Mr. Dagan et al. These cry-baby terrorists like to dish out death and destruction but they can’t take it when the tide is turned on them. Too bad – die like men instead of the whimpering dogs you are”
2) “Israel is responsible for the well being of its citizens.
No other entity has (or will) bothered with this burden, so Israel does it very well.
Good for them.”
3) “Mossad is the best and most effective intelligence agency in the world. They know how to do their job”
4) “This is becoming absurd. Hamas have been attacking Israel for years and we just say “Ah well, this sort of thing happens.” And now that Israel has supposedly killed a Hamas leader we’re causing an uproar!
Do we care more about Hamas than we do Israel? Or are we just trying to pacify Hamas so that we don’t suffer any terror attacks?”
Source: The powerful, shadowy Mossad chief Meir Dagan is a ‘streetfighter’
http://tinyurl.com/ylyrkuy
February 18th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Similar positive comments at a Times article about the incident:
Arrest the head of Mossad, says Dubai police chief
http://tinyurl.com/yc2z5vx
And check out the number of recommendations these posts have attracted.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
“Indeed Shameless Milne is weeping with frustration.” says Clap Hammer.
He needs a musical interlude like this cross-comment from Cif Watch:
The Shameless Gloating Song
(to the tune of “The Eton Boating Song):
Shameless gloating weather;
He can’t see wood for trees.
Keep Shameless on his tether.
He’ll spread swine-flu disease.
And from his regions nether,
Cif-ilis Vicky to please,
And from his regions nether,
Cif-ilis Vicky to please.
Wykhamists may be clever,
But Stalinists never cool.
He’s a Shameless bellwether
Of what is a toffee-nosed tool.
But one can never tell whether
He’s the tool of an ass or mule.
But one can never tell whether
It’s the tool of an ass or mule.
Three months hence political weather
Will make Shameless-ness obsolete.
Shamelessly made into pig-leather;
Hairy bacon the Guardian will eat.
And Cameron will stroll midst the heather,
Pigskin trews on his Shameless seat;
And Boris will dance in the heather,
Pigskin shoes on his Shameless feet.
DS Al Coda
February 18th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
The shameless hypocrisy of the British Media and the likes of Ming Campbell are truly astonishing.
Does anyone really believe that even as I write this now, there are no MI6 agents in far off lands using fake/forged passports of the US, Germany, Canada, Jordan, Israel, Japan etc etc.
So do us all a favour Mr Bowen and Mr Campbell and take care as you climb down off that high horse of yours.
A foreign secret service agency using fake passports – who ever heard of such of thing??
Of course we British would never dream of being so dishonest.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I am glad to see evidence of intelligent life in Britain. At times one thinks that the Claire Short’s and Jenny Tonge’s call the shots.
February 18th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
And of course the BBC news are making a real matza pudding out of it all. I wonder why. Is it because then they won’t have to report on coalition troops killing civilians in Afghanistan? ‘We tries our best,’ say the spokesmen. ‘But the rotters hide behind women and children…!’
February 19th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Do you remember such outrage from the British government when Russian agents left a trail of uranium contamination around London, having murdered someone in our capital city? I remember no outrage, no protests, no callings in of the Russian ambassador.
February 19th, 2010 at 3:06 am
Too bad nobody was around to ask George Galloway where Hamas comes by the money to send an operative to stay in a luxury hotel in Dubai and purchase guns, when there’s all that starvation and privation in Gaza.
February 19th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Good point Lynne T.
“The Respect MP George Galloway said assurances from Israel could not be trusted as the “rogue state” had broken its word in the past.”
Someone was around, but didn’t ask and they never will.
My understanding is that al-Mabhouh wasn’t just buying guns, but was acquiring rockets capable of hitting Tel-Aviv. His killing could in time save dozens of innocent lives. That’s the war Israel is fighting.
One point overlooked in all the fuss about passports is that in a recent video al-Mabhouh confessed to having murdered the abducted soldiers Sasportas and Sa’adon back in 1989. Was that mentioned on the BBC ?
February 19th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Lynne T – you have touched on an interesting side-light to the Gaza story – “the millions starving” in Gaza while the big chiefs live it up ….
February 19th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
First of all, I express my congratulations to the blog-owner Mr. Shepherd who have offered his great piece to the Jerusalem Post paper as a comment on the British (mostly media) perspectives of the story.
I don’t really have much to add to this article regarding Britain, ’cause I’d only repeat myself. This is rather unnecessary I believe.
I would however like to make something clear.
In the US and elsewhere, heck, even Europe too there are serious, very serious analytical studies all around a dime a dozen which virtually say that Europe have had its “peak” and its collective power is only downhill from now on in the next few decades. This assumption by serious people is so common that it appears there are no substantial opponents of this view. If Brazil, India perhaps South-Africa (or Nigeria?) will have their way the current structure of the UNSC is bound to be reformed beyond recognition sometime down the line. That seems fairly sure the way I see it. Eruope will lose and lose badly. So all I want to say is that Israel – in its own best interest – should start building relations, meaningful relations step by step block by block rather sooner than later. In my view, Europe is a rotten, putrid, morally and hostorically compromised place anyway – the foten heard and called on BS-type rhetoric of high-mindedness, “human rights”, “tolerance” conflict-avereness and cetra notwithstanding.
Simply put, Israel should turn to Asia more and more and leave Europe. Naturally, slowly and very gradually. Israel is an Asian country, and if you think about it, an Asian NATION in its roots anyway. Relying on a dying, yes, in many respects dying continent does not serve its best interests. Here comes the fact what Swedish FM Karl Bildt said – and, ultimately, had it right. Say whatever you want about him, he was spot-on one thing when he suggested that Israel should not play “divide and rule” (yes, these were his words) wrt Europe (otherwise a fine, very fine British tradition in itself…). Yes, Israel did just that and does that now. And this is what it should and must continue in the future. It has to retain a few allies as it goes along to replace the dying continent one time in the future. But until France, and the UK has seats on the UNSC and Germany is the boss in the EU, it has something to fear of the EU. I’m fairly sure that after half of Israel’s export will not go to Europe (i.e.: to be open to blackmail and behind-the-scnes extortion, because LET’S face it: it IS now however some of us liked this were not the case – it is), but Asia, the US, Japan, Brazil, China or Japan, it will be somewhat easier then. Israel should/must retain Germany and, as much as possible, even France and the others. Britain is absolutely irrelevant in my view, but if the Tories will come the reltionship could improve greatly there, too. However we should be under no illusions. Imho The Indians (Hindu, Sikh, Christian people thre), the Chinese will NEVER be “euopeans”. These peple, these peples are not contaminatied, consciously or subconsciusly, by 200 years of Jew-hatred. I’m awfully sorry to say, but even the most philosemitic countries in Europe is there is one or two can’n evn match anything of the disease-free collctive minds and souls of the Asians. That’s a gigantic opportunity for Israel. Lieberman reportedly travels to Brussels next Monday. I can only imagine what his European “counterparts” will say to him and how they will grill him.
To cut it short now: I say it would be logical for Israel to begin to undo (“deconstruct” – literally) the suffocating hug of the European ant-Semites there.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Jonathan K:
I may have used “guns” but meant any materials used for war rather than civilian/humanitarian purposes.
If the fools who gave money to Viva Palestina only knew the truth about what happens to money given to the Palestinians. It either ends up in the pockets of the upper echelons of Fatah or paying for jihad. Very little is used for humanitarian purposes, and when it is, it is used to coerce cooperation.
If the Dubai hit was indeed an Israeli intelligence operation, I hope the hit was worth it. Pay-back for al-Mabhoub’s culpability for the killing of two Israel soldiers plus serving as Hamas’s chief of staff on an armaments buying gig vs diplomatic flack over passports and whatever other payback Hamas might envision.
If nothing else, it should put a little more fear into high ranking members of Hamas and would look very good on them.
http://www.hudsonny.org/2010/02/fatahgate-fallout-where-are-the-media-editors-are-not-interested-unless-it-has-an-anti-israeli-angle.php
February 20th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
One curiously under-reported aspect is the collusion of the Palestinian Authority in the hit. Two Palestinians have been extradited to Dubai from Jordan, and Hamas are claiming the PA was deeply involved. But the British media – who usually swallow every Hamas claim without scrutiny – simply aren’t interested. It just doesn’t help the narrative of the saint-like Palestinians I suppose.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Andy:
If they went as far as all that, they might also have to report that Al-Mahboub wasn’t just in Dubai for a little holiday. Melanie Phillips’ blog says the goal was to arrange for the purchase of long-range missels from Iran capable of striking Tel Aviv. If so, that would certainly explain why the response from the British government was relatively muted and also the cooperation from the PA.
February 20th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
On the other hand…
A comment appearing below an article at The Times:
“Bob Bates wrote:
It’s high time the Israel Experiment was cancelled.
February 19, 2010 2:11 PM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
Recommend? (27)”
Can you imagine anyone suggesting this about any other nation on earth? Can you imagine The Times allowing such a comment about any other nation on earth to stand? The hatred really does run very deep.
Source: Dubai wants head of Mossad arrested over Hamas assassination
http://tinyurl.com/yb2bu3b
February 21st, 2010 at 11:44 am
Gabor Frankl above, you are absolutely right. I very much enjoy reading your pieces that are commendable for their clarity. I agree that Europe, tainted as it is by years of overt anti-Semitism, is now on a downward spiral; morally, financially and spiritually bankrupt. I know that Israel is looking towards the east and can speak from personal experience that these territories are India and China.
I note that the Telegraph has a piece today that posits that Israeli customs are secretly photocopying the passports of dual nationality Olim and that Mossad is using these. Their proof? ‘Diplomatic sources.’
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:37 pm
If pressed to say why, I would speculate that the populace in Britain is smart enough to see the lack of perspective surrounding much media comment on Israel these days, and the sky-high moral standards that are imposed upon it – standards that are generally not imposed upon its neighbours.
Perhaps even people are finally viewing the duplicity and double standards surrounding the Islamic world and it’s apologists in the British media.
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:20 pm
James, not at the Guardian and the Independent (perhaps not even elsewhere). They are thoroughly brainwashed.