The European Union sharply denounced Monday the use of false European passports by killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai. The condemnation did not mention Israel, which Dubai authorities blame for the assassination.
In a statement issued from Brussels, the European Union "strongly condemned" the false E.U. passports and credit cards allegedly used by the killers of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai last month. The E.U. called for full cooperation with an ongoing investigation being carried out by Dubai authorities into the killing.
The E.U. statement did not explicitly mention Israel, which Dubai says was behind the killing. But European diplomats said the statement aimed to reprimand Israel and it was timed to coincide with a Monday meeting in Brussels between Israeli Foreign Minister Avigor Lieberman and his European counterparts.
Following talks with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy also had strong words about the assassination and the false European passports, including a French one.
Mr. Sarkozy said France condemned the assassination. He said nothing can justify such methods. He said the French foreign ministry had summoned Israel's charge d'affairs for talks on the use of false European passports.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the assassination. Mr. Lieberman said in a statement Monday there was no proof of Israeli involvement.