Suspicion is growing that the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, is using delaying tactics with
the Dubai passports scandal, says Asem Judeh human rights activist and Israeli Terrorism
Monitor founder. “The Rudd government talked about having an independent voice in
foreign relations,” says Judeh. “But when it was really challenged by a total disregard of
international law and opinion by Israel’s misusing of Australians’ passports in the
assassination of a Palestinian in Dubai, what do we get? Delay, and requests for more
reports. Either they are hopelessly incompetent and slow, or they are playing for time.”
Judeh says the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is claiming that there is no
information to say that the Australians whose passports were used were involved in any
way. The clear implication is that they were used. “And who could have used them?” asks
Judeh. “The Israeli secret service, of course. Who else would want to assassinate a Palestinian?
How can there be any other conclusion than that Israel did it? Yet all we hear from Mr Smith is
that he has “clearly outlined the government’s position”. How can he when at the same time he
is saying the government do not have a position until the work has been “completed and given
full consideration.” This is a whitewash.”
Judeh says the British and New Zealand governments have taken a stand against Israel, but the
Rudd government s afraid to. “We never see this kind of caution if there are Arabs or Muslims
involved,” he says. “The rush to judgement then is obscenely quick with lies and hatred. But
when Israel does something that recklessly abuses the interests of Australian citizens it suddenly
becomes a time for extreme caution, “more work to be completed” and “full consideration”.”
Judeh says it is a moral failure on the part of Australia’s political leadership. “Where is
Australia’s independent voice of Australia in the affairs of the world as Rudd promised us?
