In the current economic climate, national reputations have been put through the grinder.  Some countries with strong economic track records have been severely challenged including the US and the UK while other countries with more fragile economic reputations, such as Greece and Spain have been floored by the end of the credit boom party.  I would find the latest economic acronym of PIIGS countries quite entertaining were it not for the fact that behind it lies a great deal of pain for a great number of people.  And as I sit here in Abu Dhabi, I haven’t got to look far to see that issue has not been just a European problem.  It even spread to the Gulf.

But events in the UAE in the last couple of days have revealed a remarkable story of intrigue, hit squads and murder.  It’s gripping and yet appalling and very Shakespearian.  And suspicions have been raised by the CCTV footage indicating this was a well orchestrated operation.  The finger is pointing to Israel and that it was a plan by its secret intelligence service Mossad to execute Hamas’ military chief.  

At this stage no one can be certain of the provenance of the team identified as the assassins.  But if evidence emerges to support the claim it was Israel, I think there is going to be inordinate damage to that country’s reputation on the world stage. 

Israel is no stranger to claims that it’s anything but a good world citizen.  It already bears the burden of Middle East conflict and I can think of no other more polarising topic.  Israel claims its military operations  are defensive and many countries such as the US have stood by Israel’s right to defend its territory and its people.  

But if the Government of Israel approved taking that conflict to a third country - in the Arab world no less - and anointed the operation, then it will damage relations with those countries, particularly with Europe, which has stood by Israel in the worst of times.  UK, France and Germany are all keen to build relations with the oil rich UAE which is set on tracking down the murderers. 

And it makes it very difficult to see how Egypt and Jordan which negotiate a fine line in middle eastern diplomacy remaining mute on the topic.  Could there be no worse challenge for Israel than its prime minister or defence minister being sought by the International Criminal Court for an act of murder?  That’s the threat.  And could there be no worse contribution to the Middle East peace process than the Israel playing a murderous game in the playground of the Middle East?

Who knows who was behind this murder?  But it is absorbing and appalling and sadly casts a shadow over Dubai's status as a peaceful place of cosmopolitan fun and entertainment.  Poor Dubai is struggling to regain its reputation as a viable centre for economic activity.  A blow to its reputation as a leisure destination is one that the UAE authorities, I suspect, will not take quietly.