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Dubai murder-accused had Kiwi link

Former Israeli diplomat to New Zealand Zev William Barkan leads a life akin to that of novelist Frederick Forsyth's Jackal – emerging from the shadows only to be named by authorities in connection with various crimes before again disappearing.

Barkan is still wanted in New Zealand as the alleged ringleader of an illegal passport scam in 2004; last year he was named as a suspect in the slaying of a Hamas operative in Dubai.

Barkan is one of 32 people Dubai police suspect as having a role in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a hotel room in the emirate in January 2010.

Four fake Australian passports were used by the team responsible for the killing.

That development came six years after Barkan fled New Zealand for Israel in the wake of a passport scam that caused a rift in New Zealand relations with the Jewish State. Two of his countrymen were arrested for stealing the identity of an Aucklander with cerebral palsy to fraudulently obtain a passport.

New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions against Israel and suspended high-level contacts between the two countries following the July 2004 passport fraud convictions of Israelis Uriel Zosha Kelman and Eli Cara. Speculation was that the men were Mossad agents.

New Zealand police allege Barkan was the one who actually tried to get the passport.

Tony Resnick, a former paramedic with St John Ambulance, was also believed to have been involved. He spent some time working in Israel and was a "person of interest" to police. He resigned from his job and left the country without warning in March 2004.

Barkan is also believed to have left New Zealand before Kelman and Cara were caught.

In reaction, then prime minister Helen Clark cancelled a planned visit to New Zealand in August by then Israeli president Moshe Katzav, delayed approval for a new Israeli ambassador to New Zealand, and said the case had "seriously strained our relationship".

A year later, Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom expressed sorrow, and said Israel would work to repair it. Dr Alon Liel, former director-general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said Israel had to protest the sanctions, "for if not, it's a silent admission that the two men worked for the Mossad".

Meanwhile, Kelman and Cara, who denied membership of Mossad but pleaded guilty to trying to enter the country illegally and working with organised criminal gangs, were sentenced to six months' jail.

Embassies in Dubai | Dubai Tourism

Dubai is internationally known as a tourist friendly city. The United Arab Emirates has amicable relations with almost all the countries in the world. Thus, Most countries have their embassies in either the capital city Abu Dhabi or in Dubai. Embassies or Consulates assist visitors to acquire information about the procedures to enter the city. You can approach the embassy to guide you through the formalities involved for entry and visa, passport requirements, customs regulations and general travel tips. It is best to get an appointment before you go there in person.

The embassies or consulates are there to extend help and support to the citizens of their country either residing or visiting the UAE. The embassies and consulates are also the best place to gather all the information regarding that country before you embark on a journey to that nation. If you encounter any problems during your visit its best to get in touch with the embassy. The embassies in Dubai are proof to the efforts taken by the Government to build and develop business and trade throughout the world.

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