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Irish flagIsrael news photo

An Irish town has ripped out from its guest book the signature of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland as fallout spreads from the January assassination in Dubai of Hamas senior terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

In Australia, officials indefinitely postponed screening of the Israeli-made movie “Noodle,” and Dubai police have warned that Israelis not holding dual citizenship are unwelcome. Israeli citizens without dual citizenship officially are not allowed to enter the United Arab Emirates although they often enter on foreign passports. Many exceptions have been made for low-level diplomats and for trade missions.  

The BBC reported from Ireland that Matt Carthy, a town official, said,  "I think if a government is responsible for a wholesale disregard for international law then local authorities, as well as our own government, have a responsibility to tell them we expect a higher standard." Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin opposed the move, saying that the Israeli ambassador deserves “civility and respect.”

Six false Irish passports, one German, four French and three Australian passports were allegedly used in the assassination of Mabhouh.

Australia reacted by canceling, at least for the time being, the screening of the Israeli film Noodle, scheduled to be shown in Parliament House in two weeks. Last week, the Israeli ambassador to Australia was summoned to Parliament House, breaking a long and solid record of Aussie support for Israel.

The screening had been arranged by Israeli ambassador Yuval Rotem and by the Australia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group for an evening "celebration of Israeli culture,” according to the Australian Associated Press.

In addition, Australian police said they are en route to Israel to investigate the issuance of false passports. Israel has said there is no proof its intelligence agents were involved in the assassination and passport fiasco.

In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai’s police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim said Tuesday that citizens with dual citizenship will be carefully scrutinized, regardless of what passport they hold," in contrast to previous procedures of easy entry. He added that Israelis without dual citizenship, even if holding an alternative passport, will not be allowed to enter.

There has been no investigation or condemnation of the fact that  Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, an avowed kidnapper, murderer and arch terrorist was able to enter Dubai with ease.