Israel data-transfer plan delayed by EU

Ireland has forced the European Commission to delay a proposed deal to allow transfer of sensitive personal data of EU citizens to Israel.

The proposal was taken off the table at a European Commission meeting in Brussels on Thursday after an objection was lodged by the Irish government, BBC reported.

Ireland said it was concerned about the use of forged Irish passports by the Israeli regime in the recent terror operation against Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai last January.

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said that his reservations came in the wake of an investigation which concluded that an official from the Israeli Embassy in Dublin was most likely responsible for the forgery of eight Irish passports.

The Irish government says Israel must tighten up its data protection laws.

Ireland expressed outrage after learning that eight fake Irish passports were used in the terror killing of al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel.

Forged British, French, Australian and German passports were also used in the operation. Dubai police declared that Israeli agents were involved in the assassination and published their photos and forged passports.

The EU justice commissioner’s spokesman, Matthew Newman, told BBC that the commission would seek further clarification on the issues raised by Ireland, adding that the proposal was not blocked.

It is not clear why the European Commission intends to share personal data of EU citizens with Israel.