Ireland cancels arms deal with Israel reportedly over Mabhouh issue

The Irish ministry of defense has cancelled an arms deal with Israel by which the latter would supply Dublin with ammunition, a Hebrew daily reported on Monday.

Maariv said that the deal stipulates supplying the Irish army with 20 million bullets per annum to be used as ammunition for various Irish military units.

It noted that the ministry, which used to buy such ammunition from Israel over the past five years paying millions of Euros annually, decided to resort instead to purchasing from Belgium and other countries such as Brazil.

The Irish press said that the step was taken in retaliation to the Israeli Mossad’s use of forged Irish passports in the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai last January.

Ireland had purchased ammunition to the tune of 14 million Euros from Israel over the past five years.