By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
WARSAW, Poland – Polish authorities have arrested a suspected Israeli agent in connection with the murder of a Hamas leader in Dubai earlier this year.
Germany is now seeking the extradition of Uri Brodsky, suspected in the January assassination of a Hamas commander, identified as Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, one of the founders of the Palestinian group Hamas’ military wing.
Brodsky was allegedly involved in illegally obtaining a German passport, according to a spokesman for the German prosecution, who added that it’s now up to the Poles to decide whether to give Brodsky up to Germany, where he will faces charges of espionage and forgery.
Arrested on June 4 at the Warsaw airport on suspicion that he assisted one of the assassins with obtaining a fraudulent passport, Polish authorities have a month to decide on extradition.
He allegedly worked with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. Israel opposes Poland’s proposed extradition of Brodsky to Germany. However, according to the Polish prosecutor, the extradition is based on a European warrant, which, consistent with European Union standards, leaves Poland with little choice in the decision.
Der Spiegel, a German magazine, reported that the Israeli embassy in Warsaw is urging Poland not to extradite Brodsky to Germany.
His wife also issued a statement urging the authorities to permit Brodsky to be turned over to the Dubai authorities to be tried there.
He will not face charges in connection with the assassination of the Hamas commander, only the espionage and forgery charges.
Officials from Dubai have claimed that Israeli agents are responsible for the January killing and provided the names of two dozen alleged assassins who carried out the plot using fraudulent passports from several different countries, including Britain, the Irish Republic, France, Australia, and Germany. The Dubai police have released surveillance footage showing the alleged Mossad suspects from the hit squad. According to the police, al-Mabhouh was drugged and suffocated.
For more information, please see:
BBC – Israeli wanted over Dubai killing ‘held in Poland’ – 12 June 2010
Al Jazeera – Poland holds alleged Israeli spy – 13 June 2010
The Jerusalem Post – Poles support agent’s extradition – 14 June 2010
Bloomberg Businessweek – Poland May Seek Surrender of Suspected Mossad Agent Tomorrow – 15 June 2010
Examiner – Mossad agent allegedly involved in Hamas killing now to be extradited to Germany – 15 June 2010
Haaretz.com – Poland to extradite alleged Mossad agent to Germany – 15 June 2010
