Strategic Killing," Aref Assaf, Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt, 1-7 April , 2004
"Strategic killing"
Sir-- Israel could have easily arrested Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a 67-year-old
quadriplegic and the most prominent Palestinian Islamic figure, and tried him
for his alleged crimes. However, this savage act should come as no surprise to
anyone who has followed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's actions. The
killing of Sheikh Yassin is part of the Israeli offensive ahead of the
evacuation from most of Gaza. Sheikh Yassin's assassination sent the message
that when the Gaza disengagement is finally implemented, Hamas will not be able
to claim that the withdrawal was prompted by the group's military operations.
Sharon's logic is impeccable: Israel is an overwhelming military power, its
strongest ally is the mightiest military force in the world, therefore, as long
as its conflict with the Palestinians remains within the military arena, Israel
will maintain a strong and steady upper hand. Key to keeping the conflict on the
military arena is taking strategic actions that will sabotage any peace
initiatives or efforts to make progress on the political front.
Yet as glaring as the outlines of this strategy have been, US media continue to
tell us that Sharon's Israel wants to resolve the conflict equitably and
peacefully, that it is interested in moving towards a political solution, only
if it could find a serious partner on the other side of the table. Israel's
assassination of Palestinians will only enflame retaliation, not deter them.
It is incumbent upon our government to strongly condemn this political
assassination not by bland statements, but by cutting the flow of American
taxpayer dollars to Israel; it is these tax dollars that pay for the weapons
Israel uses to carry out such illegal attacks. In addition, our government
should cancel Sharon's upcoming visit to Washington.
Aref Assaf
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