Mossad – in from the cold?

It’s a long time since an exploit by Israel’s secret service – Mossad – has hit the headlines. The assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud al Mabrouh on January 20 in a Dubai hotel has the aroma of Mossad about it, although of course the agency is remaining shtum. The usual Mossad features – forged passports, clean killing with no family or bystanders involved, quick in-and-out – are indeed redolent of that agency’s methods unlike , for example, the heavy-handed “bomb-the-lot” approach of Arab assassins.

Nevertheless, foreign commentators – and indeed the ultra-critical Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz (Following alleged Dubai mess, the Mossad chief must go) - have been quick to seize on amateurish features of the coup. The British are particularly incensed that their passports have been used.

But do I detect the whiff of sour grapes and double standards here? Recall that the Americans have been endeavouring for ages to get Mr Bin Laden – dead or alive – and remember the pack of “assassination cards” featuring the Iraqi leaders on the US hit list.

An amazing real-life video of the “event” has been produced by the BBC here which would seem to make any future book, or film superfluous. Sorry, Freddie Forsythe.

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