[Middle East News Service comments: Several days ago a friend with considerable interest in Civil Liberties comments of her disappointment on the nonchalant way in which targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders has been accepted by otherwise progressive people. As she suggested the matter should be discussed with both points of view being presented. But it seems as if there is nothing like a failure, even a partial failure, to ignite the discussion of the morality of those assignations. Haaretz’s own editorial questions the matter but it columnist Gideon Levy who goes for jugular and challenges the morality of the Israeli attitude. Strong words which almost have the sound of a Biblical prophet about them – Sol Salbe.

Last update - 04:24 18/02/2010

Gideon Levy / Mossad is supposed to gather intelligence, not sow death

Let's suppose the Dubai assassination project had worked out well. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh would have received his kiss of death, the assassins would have returned safe and sound to their bases, and no Israeli would have run into identity complications. And then? Mahmoud's place would have been taken by Mohammed, who also would have tried to kill Israeli soldiers and smuggle Iranian arms into Gaza. Perhaps the heir would even outperform his predecessor, as has happened in several previous liquidations.

We eliminated Abbas al-Musawi? Well done, Israel Defense Forces. We got Hassan Nasrallah. We killed Ahmed Yassin? Well done, Shin Bet security service. We got a Hamas many times stronger. Abu Jihad was eliminated? Well done to the Sayeret Matkal special forces unit - of course, according to foreign news reports. We killed a potential partner, relatively moderate and charismatic. As a bonus, we got revenge attacks like those after "the Engineer" Yihyeh Ayash was slain. We also got the danger hovering over every Israeli and Jew in the world each anniversary of the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, which was also blamed on Israel.

…snip…

See the full article at: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1150683.html

[The independent Middle East News Service concentrates on providing alternative information chiefly from Israeli sources. It is sponsored by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AJDS. These are expressed in its own statements]

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