Israel, assassination and the law - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

moon · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008

Here's an odd one;

Quote:

An Israeli court has convicted a Palestinian man over the assassination of an Israeli minister and for belonging to a terrorist organisation.

The court in Jerusalem on Monday found Bassel Asmar guilty of assisting in the planning of the attack on Rehavam Zeevi, the then Israeli tourism minister, in October 2001.

Al Jazeera English - News - Palestinian Convicted For Killing

Now, the Israelis have an official policy of assassination. How can assassination be a crime on their statute books ? Can it really be such that the Israeli State can assassinate at will but assassinations against the Israeli State are criminal ?

Not that I support any form of assassination, of course. I'm simply highlighting an apparent hypocrisy and the sick Israeli policy in general.

AshleyKennedy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

Here's an odd one;

Now, the Israelis have an official policy of assassination. How can assassination be a crime on their statute books ? Can it really be such that the Israeli State can assassinate at will but assassinations against the Israeli State are criminal ?

Not that I support any form of assassination, of course. I'm simply highlighting an apparent hypocrisy and the sick Israeli policy in general.

And that was only for planning an assassination.

Quote:

The Israeli minister for tourism Rehavam Zeevi, who has been assassinated aged 75, was so rightwing that he barely remained within the outer perimeter of political acceptability. He advocated the "transfer by agreement" of 3.3m Palestinians from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza to the 21 Arab nations of the region. This policy, he argued, would "cure a demographic ailment". Somewhat slyly, last February he reminded liberal detractors that it was the Labour party that had invented and carried out the first "transfer" of Arabs, in 1948.

Obituary: Rehavam Zeevi | Obituaries | Guardian Unlimited

Rehavam Zeevi was assassinated by Hamdi Quran of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Quote:

Thursday, 13 December 2007: An Israeli air strike has killed three people in Gaza City, according to Palestinian officials.

They say several people were also injured when an Israeli aircraft targeted a vehicle in the eastern district of the city.

The Israeli army confirmed the raid, saying it had targeted a militant cell.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Israeli raid kills three in Gaza

Quote:

14th December 2007: Avi Dichter will not be going to London. The Israeli dream of taking in year-end sales, the new production of Othello or the sights of Oxford Street vanished before the public security minister's very eyes. The Foreign Ministry advised Dichter not to participate in a conference there, because he could be arrested for involvement in the assassination of Hamas leader Salah Shehadeh, when he was Shin Bet security service head. The one-ton bomb used to target Shehadeh in 2002 left 15 people dead.

London's burning for Dichter - Haaretz - Israel News

Some countries see the hypocrisy and act accordingly.

moon · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008

And this from the man who was interviewed by the British police in connection with a conspiracy to 'sell honours' via 'loans' along with his fundraiser-general, 'Lord' Levy;

Quote:

Blair promises to aid Dichter with travel to UK

Quartet envoy to Middle East surprised to hear Israeli minister unable to enter Britain for fear he will be arrested for his involvement in Hamas leader's death in 2002, pledges matter will be sorted out

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...504392,00.html

Of course, Blair may one day be indicted for war crimes himself. One can understand his desire to gloss over its implications.

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