Israeli Mossad: "Mossad has a relationship with senior figures in the emirates' government,"..."

Washington Times/ here

" .... "There is a lot of hyperventilating about this in the public arena," said the senior official, who asked not to be named because he was speaking about sensitive intelligence matters. The official said he was speaking only about the effects on intelligence links and was not confirming Israel's involvement in the hit.

"The countries that coordinate the war on terror with allies like Israel and the United States and Europe are not as exercised about this as some of the public statements," the official said. "There has been no effect on the operational side."

But this assessment stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric emanating from Dubai and Brussels.....

Michael Ross, a retired officer for the Mossad's covert-operations division, said it would be a breach of Israeli protocol for an operative to flee to another target country like that after an operation.

He also said that it was unlikely that Israel would use 26 people for a job that would require far fewer people. "The Mossad believes if two people can do something instead of three people, then send two.".....

Mr. Ross, who is also the author of "The Volunteer," a memoir of his time in the Mossad, said, "The liaison and special political operations division of Mossad has a relationship with senior figures in the emirates' government," and the secret relationship was likely strained by the assassination.

"Dubai authorities for some reason have a bee in their bonnet, and this tension will not go away. This was the underestimation of the Mossad."

Dubai, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, allows Iran's Revolutionary Guard corps, as well as European and Saudi interests, to bank there. It is also one of the top targets for intelligence services throughout the world....."