Report: PM was briefed on Mabhouh killing, approved operation

[Arrowhead2k1]

Sunday Times reports Netanyahu was briefed by Mossad on plans to assassinate Hamas commander in Dubai in early January, wished intelligence agents luck

The British Sunday Times published a comprehensive report on the assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai last month. According to the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the operation after being briefed on it during a visit to the Mossad headquarters "in the northern suburbs of Tel Aviv" in early January.

The paper also reported that the Mossad suspended its activity in the Middle East following the exposure of the agents involved in Mabhouh's assassination. An Israeli source told the paper that while the Mossad was aware of the many security cameras placed throughout the emirate, its agents were surprised by the Dubai police's ability to gather all the photographs in such an efficient manner.

According to the report, the prime minister visited the Mossad headquarters in early January, where he was received by intelligence chief Meir Dagan and taken by him to a debriefing room where a number of the team members involved in Mahbouh's assassination were located.

The Mossad received information on Mabhouh's plans to travel to Dubai, and began working on a plan to have him assassinated in his hotel. The hit squad had already begun training on the mission in a Tel Aviv hotel room – without informing its owners.

The Mossad did not consider the operation particularly risky or complicated, and the prime minister reportedly authorized it and told the Mossad agents: "The people of Israel count on you. Good luck."



More: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3852012,00.html