Sheikh Ahmed Yassin Killed in Israeli Strike

[mobuto]

News ticker at top of Ha'aretz page:

Palestinian witnesses: Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin killed in IAF air strike (AP)

www.haaretzdaily.com

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Good riddance

Palestinians and Israelis alike will be better off without him.

The only unfortunate thing is that someone will take his place in Hamas.

[number6]

9. better captured and tried..

another martyr made, this is what he expected.
now will get the calls for revenge ect...

"The only unfortunate thing is that someone will take his place in Hamas.'" and thats exactly what will happen.

[Chicago Democrat]

26. That would be civilized and following the "rule of law"

Israel is a lawless regime that cares nothing Law or rules or anything that would give any advantage to the people whose land they stole.

[PsychoDad]

32. And probably replaced...

By someone much less willing to try and broker a peace.

[Karmadillo]

73. Given Sharon's history, it's understandable he's not a proponent of

capturing and trying alleged terrorists.

[Darranar]

2. Here...

Report: Hamas leader Yassin killed in IAF strike in Gaza City

GAZA CITY - Israel Airforce helicopters fired missiles at Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's car as it left his house for a mosque at daybreak Monday, residents said, and mosque loudspeakers said he was killed.

Ambulances raced to the scene, and mosques in the area amplified the sound of Quranic verses, as announcements were made calling Yassin a "martyr," meaning he had been killed. Gunfire was heard in the Sabra neighborhood where Yassin lives

Israel has been carrying out an offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas militants since a double suicide bombing attack in the port of Ashdod on March 14. The attack, which killed 10 Israelis, was carried out by two Palestinians who infiltrated into Israel from Gaza.

[JohnLocke]

3. Have fun in hell, Yassin!

Long deserved and overdue...

[Name removed]

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[BonFiyah]

52. Thank God?

I guess, if you feel that immortalizing a crazy person by making him a martyr helps the situation. I'm sure Isreal feels a lot safer now, good job guys.

[Name removed]

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[Darranar]

6. Why?

Are mass murdering terrorists now a good thing?

[Muddleoftheroad]

13. Thank you

We will probably never see eye to eye on I/P but this death is something we can agree on.

[JohnLocke]

7. What??

:wtf: :wtf:

[number6]

10. I get your sarcasm, but I think that went over every one else's head

that's why I call it, the war to create more terrorists
like they say, are we killing enough people, to show people
its wrong to kill people ? :evilgrin:

[Lithos]

12. *sigh*

While I have little remorse for his death now that it has happened, I agree with you that it will likely spur on more violence. One round will lead to another which will lead to another...

L-

[Jim Sagle]

14. Check mmm out. He means it - no sarcasm.

[Gimel]

28. They are not children

Only one side would be allowed to murder by that logic, and it would go unpunished, and therefore, increase in evil intention. Yassin was their "spiritual leader". He was supposed to be an authority on morality. Would they learn from a moral response? One would hope so. retribution is an integral part of spiritual law. Without repentance there can be no forgiveness.

[number6]

16. you, don't really mean that do you ?

???? :shrug: ???? ...I hope not

[Gimel]

8. This is one leader

who is said to have had a significant influence, and surely was a figure who justified actions of the terrorists to the Palestinian population.

How the Palestinians population responds, and how Arafat responds could be telling.

[Proudlib]

11. He Got Off Too Well

I would have put him on a bus and had one of his buddies blow himself and this barbarian up.

[WheresWaldo]

15. It is hard to predict the impact him being killed will have

He was undoubtedly an obstacle to peace. His assasination may however not pave the way toward progress but more likely will lead to a dramatic escalation of violence in Israel/Palestine.

May see some residual effects in Egypt, but will not likely have an impact on the theatres in Iraq, or the wider war against al-Qaeda. No real linkage there.

Besides worrying about Hamas exacting revenge, I would also worry about a potential power struggle between Islamic Jihad and whatever is left of Hamas, and of Hamas potentially morphing into something more dangerous and radical than before. Shaikh Yassin was no saint, but there are many other far worse ideologues out there that welcome the potential opportunities that now present themselves.

[Muddleoftheroad]

17. How much worse would that be?

Escalation I mean.

No, don't misunderstand me. I want peace. Right now, tonight. Peace. Permanent and happily ever after. Israeli and Palestinian standing side by side like people talked about some years back -- before the Intifadas.

But right now, all we have in ongoing misery for both sides. Perhaps both sides need to be reminded of how horrible war -- real full-scale war -- can be enough to push them to peace.

Maybe, maybe not. But certainly it seems we have little to lose on the path we now follow.

[sushi]

18. Finally it happened

I think he wanted to be killed, so that he could be a martyr and go to paradise. Now what? It doesn't mean peace. There will be other Yassins.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Chicago Democrat]

20. The World Hates Israel, our precious stupid ally.

Just like they hate Bush; get real Isrealphiles. Your insane country is an embarrassment to the US and the world

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Chicago Democrat]

25. Notice How you just subsitituted "Jew" for "Israel"

Why must the always become about jews? This is a about a neo-fascist Israelie regime that is dragging the world further into a blood feud, and the USA is assisting them , abetting them, supplying them and that sucks.

Jews are fine. Israel and this targetted killing of their clergy is a new low for a so called civilized country. The US needs to distance itself from this outragious behavior. Palestinian "crimes" do not justify violation of the Geneva convention such as these assasinations.

[Name removed]

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[Zhade]

30. Amen.

NT!

[Muddleoftheroad]

34. Do you really feel Hamas targets Israelis?

Or does it only target Jewish Israelis?

Do you think if Hamas took over that the one million non-Jewish Israeis would be in the same danger that the 5 million Jewish Israelis would be?

[IronLionZion]

60. Hamas kills Arabs too

There are Arabs in the IDF. They are given the most dangerous jobs like patrolling the Palestinian areas. Anyone who assists Israel is fair game for Hamas.

I think it is just horrible that anyone has to be killed at all.

[Muddleoftheroad]

62. But they do have to be killed

And that is the nature of warfare.

Yes, Hamas and its many evil clones do indeed kill Arabs, often because they care little who gets in their way of killing not just Israelis, but specifically Jews. One look at their founding documents and it is clear which they prefer.

[Name removed]

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[Cassandra]

47. I was under the impression that...

my insane country was the US...but perhaps you think you know better than I.
The world could not possibly hate Israel because of killings. Some of the most condemnatory nations kill many more every year. So what could it be? Hmmmmmmmmm..........could it be that there are Jews there????

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

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[messiah]

24. Good move to fulfill bible prophecy

[Chicago Democrat]

27. Palestinians are just like Indians in Israels version of the

Indian wars. Dead Indians don't matter, laws don't matter, Agreements don't matter. Nothing matters to the criminal Sharon regime.

[PsychoDad]

31. Israeli Military Slaughters Old Man In Wheel Chair.

Film at 11.

Today brave IOF assasinate elderly, wheelchair bound man from afar. Pilots praised for their bravery.

Zionism made safe for another day.

Minimal resistance was met, but overcome by well trained and brave IOF pilots. "like killing a child" Gloat brave lukid forces...

Sharon states action should show all elderly handicaped Palistinians that Isreal does not fear the wheelchair bound.

Republicans and Democrats state that they are proud that the missle was made in America, payed for by US taxpayers, and delivered by Israel.

[bluesoul]

33. So if the

Palestinians kill Sharon, that would be fair game now? :shrug:

Truely heroic act on the part of Israel i must say. When the next bus blows up, they'll know what led to it...

[Gimel]

39. No way

that's an escalation in violence, pure and simple. Your turn to hold the line. Stop the war now!!

[bluesoul]

42. My turn? LOL

Sharon is the one with all the power. End the occupation NOW! End the daily misery of Palestinians now! Withdraw from Palestinian territory now! Bring down the wall now! AMEN

[newyorican]

69. delusion...

in spades...

[PsychoDad]

45. This is not a game of hot potato...

where the resposibility gets tossed from one side to the other..

Look at me, I slaughtered someone...Your turn to try and be civil.

[Gimel]

57. It's not?

It sure sounded that way so often here. I must be getting delusional now that I've suddenly gotten this role reversal. It's gone to my head. Sorry. By all means. Keep that wall high and let the Palestinians use their lavish donations for improving their own lives and leave Israelis to live their's. Amen.

[PsychoDad]

46. Well, to be honest...

As some here are fond of stating, this is a war.

To be honest, Sharon, the governmet, military and infrastructure would make much better targets than some folks on a bus or in a cafe.

[Cassandra]

50. So what led to the last bus blowing up?

Any excuse will do.

[sushi]

40. He said that?

Sharon states action should show all elderly handicapped Palestinians that Israel does not fear the wheelchair bound.

One must be very tough and brave not to fear elderly handicapped in wheelchairs!!! I heard on TV Yassin was also almost blind and quite deaf. Well, he is in paradise now, but the situation will get worse. I was wondering if this is exactly what Sharon wants, so that there's no chance of peace talks for quite some time.

[PsychoDad]

44. I was being sarcastic...

Sorry Sushi, Sharon didn't say that.:silly:

Prolly thought it tho -

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

92. He was losing his usefulness

*** I was wondering if this is exactly what Sharon wants, so that there's no chance of peace talks for quite some time. ***

I agree.

Wheelchair-bound, elderly, deaf and nearly blind. Also talking about negotiations.

Osama Bin Laden is elderly and on dialysis, but at least he's not talking about a truce.

It seems the Neoconservatives only kill terrorists when they cease to be useful for cowing the masses.

[Aidoneus]

59. a blind old man in a wheel chair

They all must be very proud. :eyes:

[GabysPoppy]

68. Why not add also

he was a peace loving cleric unable to order killing or terrorism.

That does seem to be what you are implying.

Feel free to correctly define the gentleman.

[Aidoneus]

74. those are not his qualities

he was known as the "Sheikh of two intifadas", both of which I favour in many respects, and was for a fight to liberate all of Palestine. Since surviving the Naqba, and having his village occupied and destroyed by the zionist invaders, all of his life has been directed towards this idea. Though he was usually all in white (coupled with his beard, this was a really surreal appearance), the process was and is not something done while wearing white gloves. He personally was not capable of much on his own, being a blind old man in a wheelchair et al, but was more sybolic of the entire Palestinian nation, rather than a busybodied "ringleader" or lynchpin to solve all of your worries by being without.

The sources of and reasons for maintaining the resistance and "terrorism" (not all of which I approve of specifically) are not an idea or thought put out by one man like Arafat or the shaheed Yasin, but rather conditions that cannot be masked by any number of lies or words. Filling the al-Shuhada cemetary in Gaza and cemetaries all over occupied Palestine will not solve Israel's troubles. May your celebration over this be short-lived.

[sushi]

77. I agree

Israel can't solve its problems by killing. Sometimes I wonder if people do the wrong thing because they are stupid or just stubborn. Or maybe it's just arrogance.

[sushi]

75. I heard on TV

that Israel jailed Yassin more than once(?) in the past. Why did they let him go? I don't think the late cleric had a big fan club outside his immediate circle, but Sharon's action is also wrong. Israel breaks the rules and then is amazed that the world (except for the US) is against it. You're not going to tell me that the US and Israel are right and everybody else is wrong, are you?

[Aidoneus]

76. He was released..

by Netanyahu, after the Mossad badly fouled up an assassination attempt inside Jordan. This was a very bad public relations issue--Jordan and Israel are "at peace" (which means effectively that the Jordanian government is paid millions every year to sit on their thumbs and watch as Palestinians are attacked every day). In exchange for the King (on the CIA payroll for 2 decades) to go back to not giving a shit, Israel released Yasin from their jails.

He was arrested for being involved with the formation of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas during the previous intifada to fight Israel's occupation ('67 & '48 in their case, though recently he's softened his line to considering just '67 on the table).

Sheikh Yasin is actually a very popular man--his funeral processesion in Gaza earlier, from the al-Shifa hospital to the al-Shuhada cemetary, was the biggest demonstration Gaza has ever had. Tens of thousands of people were involved.

[cantwealljustgetalong]

71. uh huh, you forgot a few adjectives like innocent, harmless, benevolent...

HRW
Letter to Hamas Spiritual Leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin...
August 6, 2002
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
Spiritual Leader
Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)
Gaza

Dear Sheikh Yassin,

We are writing to you regarding continued attacks against civilians for which the Islamic Resistance Movement (harakat al-muqawama al-islamiyya, Hamas) has claimed responsibility. We are aware of remarks by you and by other leading Hamas figures, including Dr. Abd al-Aziz al-Rantissi and Dr. Mahmoud Zahar, endorsing such attacks. Human Rights Watch strongly condemns attacks by any party that target civilians or in which civilians suffer disproportionate harm, whether such attacks are committed by agents of a government or by armed opposition groups. No matter what the aims and objectives are, such attacks flagrantly violate the most fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law.

...

According to news reports, Hamas has claimed responsibility for at least twenty-three suicide bombings that have targeted and killed civilians. These include Sunday's suicide bombing on a bus in northern Israel, which killed nine and injured forty-six, and last week's attack at the Hebrew University cafeteria, which killed seven students and injured eighty.

...

We strongly urge you to adopt and publicize a policy of full respect for the laws of war, including an immediate and total stop to the practice of targeting civilians. We ask that you publicly and unequivocally call on the military wing of your organization, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and any other groups or individuals acting on behalf of the Islamic Resistance Movement, to desist from any attacks or acts of reprisal that deliberately target civilians or are indiscriminate. Such attacks have continued unabated for far too long. It is incumbent upon you as a leader of the organization sponsoring these attacks to take a clear and forthright position in opposition to the killing of civilians-no matter what justifications may be put forward.

http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/08/hamasltr080602.htm

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

35. Apparently the rest of the world isn't so psyched

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1175312,00.html

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4620189§ion=news

Check my signature line to see what my opinion is on this.

[Muddleoftheroad]

36. Monday Morning Quarterbacking

From nations and people who were not threatened by this murdering lowlife.

[bluesoul]

37. "this murdering lowlife"

Wow that fits the description of Sharon perfectly. The Palestinians have the same feelings about hims as yours regarding Yassin.

Vice versa

[Djinn]

79. the people of the nation

that bankrolls it (which I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of DU members are US citizens) are more than entitled to comment on it muddle.

And you feel free to comment on Palestinian acts of violence all the time yet you are not threatened by the Israeli military. Tit for tat

[Gimel]

38. Paying for crime

Not only is Israel justified in bringing to justice an enemy who blatantly glorified in killing Israelis, but his death will bring disorganization to the terrorist infrastructure. So if a thousand are ready to act. They will get nowhere.

[Jack Rabbit]

41. Yes and no

(Israel is) justified in bringing to justice an enemy who blatantly glorified in killing Israelis . . . .

You'll get no argument from me on that. Yassin was one of the most evil men in the region. He will not be missed, at least not by me.

(H)is death will bring disorganization to the terrorist infrastructure.

Unfortunately, that is nonsense. Hamas is not a top-down organization. If the Israelis killed all their leaders, it would not break them.

This will make a few people feel good for a while, but it won't accomplish anything more than that.

[Herschel]

43. I do regret

not having the opportunity to pull the trigger myself. Well done.

[bluesoul]

48. Your comments

are very revealing. Finally exposed the truth about your Herschel? As did Muddle. Begone

[Muddleoftheroad]

49. Is there something wrong with wanting to be rid of evil people?

Your comments are very revealing.

[bluesoul]

56. Sharon

is evil. Tha actions of the IDF are as well in the OT. Maybe you should apply the same logic elsewhere

[Herschel]

53. Indeed

The truth is I celebrate the elimination of killers.

[sushi]

78. BOTH sides kill

Fighting over real estate has made both sides crazy.

[Gimel]

100. Could be

stock options. You make it sound so corporate. The roots go much deeper than that.

[Rhiannon12866]

51. This was the headline story I received in the Washington Post today

Hamas Leader Killed in Gaza
Founder of Militant Palestinian Group Is Targeted in Israeli Airstrike
By John Ward Anderson and Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, March 22, 2004; Page A01

GAZA CITY, March 22 -- Israeli aircraft attacked and killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader and founder of Hamas and Israel's top target, as he was pushed in a wheelchair from morning prayers at a Gaza City mosque early Monday, according to announcements blared over mosques across the city.

Thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza and the sounds of gunfire and hand grenade explosions echoed across the city as news of his death surfaced just after 5:30 a.m. dawn prayers.

Israeli AH-64 Apache helicopters fired three missiles at Yassin just outside the mosque, killing the partially blind and paralyzed Hamas leader, along with seven other people, including three bodyguards. At least 15 other people were wounded, including two of his sons, according to hospital officials.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13744-2004Mar21.html?referrer=email

And this is which step on the "Road Map" to peace? I echo Lithos' *sigh* ;(

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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[Herschel]

55. The weasel must be in mourning

A disturbing image..

&imgrefurl=http://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/MHinternet/Archives292/html_292/LE%2520MOSSAD%2520SE%2520PLANTE.html&h=205&w=142&sz=28&tbnid=q7xcJZstNGMJ:&tbnh=99&tbnw=69&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyassin%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

58. You shouldn't call Ariel Sharon names. That's not cool.

[Herschel]

61. As you see

the picture is of Yassin and Arafat. I wonder how Arafat is psychologically affected by the elimination of Yassin. Surely the weasel sees his own life flashing before his eyes. We can speculate if he is next.

As for Sharon, he is delighted.

[IronLionZion]

65. yes he wants Hamas to kill more Israelis

because that is how he stays in power. He gets off on this kind of stuff. Israelis would do very well to throw him out.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

66. My mistake, I had a problem with the picture loading up. I can see it now

It's just that when people saw weasel. I immediately think of Sharon and Bush. Although I don't agree with anyone's murder. I have to say this guy was not contributing anything to the world.

[Rhiannon12866]

80. Yes, I heard on the news today that Arafat is sure that he is next

Obviously, he is not just being paranoid. If today's "targeted killing" was a huge mistake on the part of the Israelis, taking out Arafat would be many times worse. It would never be forgotten and the peace process would never recover. The entire region would just explode in a huge morass of hate and violence, even worse than is happening just now. Everytime you think conditions cannot get worse in this beleaguered region, they somehow invariably do.

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

93. Arafat

*** Arafat is sure that he is next ***

Arafat is so compromised by terror (he was collaborating with the IDF for a while to control his own people) and corruption that maybe it would be best for his people in the long run if Israel did assassinate him. :(

Then Israel would be even more isolated (a la South Africa) and the genocidal fundamentalists in Likud and Shas would either bankrupt Israel or (hopefully) get thrown out by voters.

Also, the outrage in the Arab Street would do wonders for toppling the decreipt CIA-sponsored dictatorships that are impeding democracy in the region.

I will be very concerned for the troops in Iraq if that happens, though.

[Rhiannon12866]

95. I would not even like to contemplate the repercussions if Arafat

were ever to be assassinated, no matter who he collaberated with. If we think it is bad now, this would be more like World War III in this region. It is beyond me why a warmonger like Sharon is not thrown out by voters. He is escalating the violence by these "targeted killings," rather than attempting to negotiate peace, putting both Palestinians and Israelis in mortal danger. This recent assassination will certainly increase the suicide bombings, rather than giving those in the region a reason to hope for peace, yet again. There will always be another Hamas leader, and, now, an even more vengeful one, as I saw announced on the news earlier tonight. I am already concerned for the troops in Iraq. There were an increase in the deaths there today.;(

[Vladimir]

83. Yeah and thanks to this

Israel proably will be in mourning again soon. Yassin was a reactionary and a murderer who does not deserve to be mourned, but this was the height of calculated, cynical warmongering from Sharon.

V

[Muddleoftheroad]

84. They arrested him before

And were forced to release him back into the wild to kill again.

It's not cynical to kill enemies who are killing innocent women and children.

[Vladimir]

85. It is cynical

because Sharon knows damn well that this will only escalate the violence and strengthen Hamas over the PLO. Once the PLO is out of the way Sharon will be able to claim that there is no-one left to negotiate with on the Palestinian side, which is the point of his particular game. That's why its cynical.

I shed no tears for Yassin mind. Hamas are as opposed to the interests of the Palestinian people as is Sharon.

V

[Muddleoftheroad]

86. In either case Israel gets terror

Either planned by the scumbag Yassin or by someone else. So Israel should simply let it happen? They tried locking him up -- actually not for killing Israelis, but for killing Palestinians -- and were forced to let him go. What would you advise?

[Vladimir]

87. No Israel shouldn't let it happen

But neither should it do things that actively aggravate the situation. If I had an answer to the Middle East problem, I would either be very rich or very dead right now. But it doesn't take a genius to see that the present tactics are plainly not working.

Weakening Hamas is not an easy job, but a unilateral cessation of hostilites on Israel's part would probably do more to smash their support base than any killing. As you say, Israel gets terror either way - maybe it should try not retaliating for a while and see where that gets it?

V

[Muddleoftheroad]

88. You can't cease when they don't

That's like asking the police to cease going after criminals. Law enforcement doesn't work that way.

The problem is it might actually have to get worse before it gets better. Both sides have lived under a quasi war for a long time and you can do so and forget how bad the real thing is. Maybe they need to escalate before they find peace.

I honestly don't know. But I do know you can't ignore enemies who constantly plot to kill your civilians.

[Vladimir]

90. Legality here is not so clear cut

Under international law, what Israel is doing is illegal too. I know they tried arresting him before, I am not arguing that this is what they should have done again. But the analogy of Israel as the policeman is tenuous at best when their form of justice inevitably results in collateral damage deaths. What Israel is effectively saying is that if you associate with this man, your life is forfeit. It may be a fair enough argument of realpolitik, but guilt by association has never been accepted in law.

Secondly, on this issue of escalation. No just solution, including at least a limited right-of-return and so on, will be achieved through war. Israel claims to be a democracy - certainly it has many elements of a democracy. As such, the onus is on it to desist from these kinds of actions. Britain tried your approach in Northern Ireland, and it wasn't until it went back to the table, stopped hunting the IRA, and promised amnesty for murderers that the peace process got anywhere. The sitation is still very fragile but both sides have now lived in a comparative peace for long enough that a serious escalation is unlikely.

I don't know either - what I am suggesting may not work. But as there is no evidence that Israel's current policies deter terrorism, and plenty of evidence that they at least boost indirect support for Hamas, my suggestion probably won't make things worse either.

V

[Muddleoftheroad]

98. I disagree

He poses an imminent threat to life. As such, he can be dispatched for self defense.

No just solution includes any sort of right of return. If the Arab nations wish to pay their debt to the Jews they ethnically cleansed by paying the Palestinian people in lieu of such a right, I am OK with that.

[Vladimir]

103. Well then we will have to agree to disagree

I view a right-of-return, complete or partial, as an absolute pre-requisite to any lasting peace in the region.

V

[Muddleoftheroad]

105. Then there will be no peace

Because there will be no right of return.

It's just a fantasy for those who really want to see Israel destroyed as a Jewish state.

[sushi]

94. Police?

That's like asking the police to cease going after criminals.

Police? Where are they? All I see is horrible people on both sides fighting over land, and innocents get killed.

[Muddleoftheroad]

99. Then clearly you aren't looking

In the disputed territories, the IDF serves many of the functions of the police including locking up dangerous criminals. However, just as in the inner city, not all such criminals can be taken alive. Nor should they be.

[IronLionZion]

63. Obviously Sharon does not want peace

he wants Hamas to retaliate for this so he can retaliate for that and this can keep going on. This way no one will pay any attention the fact that he is a corrupt racist bastard. Whenever evidence of him taking bribes or being corrupt comes out, he goes and kills some Palestinians to cover it up. What an asshole. He almost makes Bush look like a good guy.

[Muddleoftheroad]

64. Yeah, how dare Israel strike back at murderers

After all, they are supposed to just sit there and wait to be attacked.

[IronLionZion]

67. How dare the Palestinians fight back

against an oppressive government that doesn't give them the right to even vote. It's better to just wait for the American-made Apache gunships to blast their homes and kill their children.

If terrorists wear uniforms and use American weapons then its OK?

[sushi]

81. What they could have done,

and in my opinion should have done, is pick him up, drag him before the court, and the judge would have throw him in jail for good so he can't do any more harm. In jail he would have been very uncomfortable, being severely disabled, and he would be suffering and wishing every day that he was dead.

What they did instead was politically unwise, and against international law (oh, I forgot, Israel doesn't care about international law). Yassin got his wish, he became a martyr, and there are now even more people ready to be suicide bombers.

I see no difference between the two sides. They're all passionate killers.

[Muddleoftheroad]

82. Israel tried that, it didn't work

"In 1989, Sheikh Yassin was arrested by the Israelis and sentenced to life imprisonment for ordering the killing of Palestinians who had allegedly collaborated with the Israeli army.

He was eventually released in 1997, in a trade-off with Jordan for two Israeli agents involved in an assassination attempt on a Hamas leader in Jordan."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1695470.stm

[sushi]

89. That was a big mistake

Why use a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in a trade-off? They should have refused when Jordan asked for Yassin (or did Israel offer?).

Since Yassin was the leader of Hamas and, Israel says, ordered the suicide bombings, one can say that Israel is partly responsible for the suicide bombings by Hamas since 1997, when they released him.

The coalition is trying to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqis, and I think Israel should do the same, try to win the hearts and minds of the world, but Israel doesn't seem to care.

[Muddleoftheroad]

91. Perhaps

But Israel is very protective of all of its citizens and goes to epic lengths to return them, or even their dead bodies.

It is an impossible choice. Though I would not have returned him either. In fact, I would have done just the opposite. I would have made it clear that he would have been executed if the Israelis weren't returned.

It might have cost me an election (Yeah, like I'd ever get elected.), but I would have done it -- quietly.

[newyorican]

70. I wonder if there will be celebrating...

at the blow-back? Interesting how Sharon's supporters happily accept that the end result of this action will be more dead Israelis.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

72. Interesting indeed. eom

[Rhiannon12866]

101. That's my take on this, as well. I just don't get it

His successor has vowed to be even more hard line. Is anyone surprised? As I said, when I first heard of this, which step is this on the "road map" to peace? What a tragedy for this beleaguered region, already beset by so very much heart-wrenching tragedy to begin with.

[Muddleoftheroad]

102. So

Would you have failed to go after Charles Manson because you were afraid somebody else in his group was worse?

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

104. It's easy when Manson lives 10,000 miles away

rather than across the street.

But things are so much clearer from the sidelines

B

[Muddleoftheroad]

106. They appear clear to you on the sidelines

I have friends on the firing line. I don't stand on the sidelines.

[newyorican]

107. More like the parking lot...

Either you are on the front-line or you aren't. Dubious claims of "friends" doing the dirty work while bloviating from the comfort of home is an untenable position, not that it has stopped anyone from doing it.

[Djinn]

108. You make some pretty massive assumptions

with that call Muddle - sorry but you know nothing about the majority of people who post here.

[Muddleoftheroad]

109. I made no assumptions about anyone but that poster

And my comments were in direct response to his.

[Rhiannon12866]

110. This guy was elderly and in a wheelchair

My grandmother wouldn't have been afraid of him. He was hardly Charles Manson, who was insane, BTW, and had no political agenda. Is his successor so much better? He is hard-line, determined and has a take-no-prisoners attitude. This is better? How can this not exacerbate the already-horrible situation in this war-torn part of the world, is my question. We need to be making peace here. This is definitely not one of the steps on that "road map.";(

[GabysPoppy]

111. Please try to remember

One doesn't have to sing and dance to order and approve a man or woman or child to strap on a bomb an and kill and maim hundreds of people.

He just can't dance and celebrate as his followers can.

I believe the person convicted as the mastermind of the earlier WTC bombing was blind. Your grandmother wouldn't have been afraid of him either.

:hi: Lisa

[Rhiannon12866]

117. Touche, regarding the mastermind of the WTC bombing

Where is that guy now, anyway?

But I keep thinking of a line from a play that I used to hear everyday when I went to work. "Better the devil you know..." This new head of Hamas is neither elderly nor blind and has a real score to settle. How is this better for anyone?:shrug:

Paul, :hi:

[cantwealljustgetalong]

112. "elderly and in a wheelchair"...

so was FDR and that did not stop him from conducting WWII...

if you are sayng, because of his age or disability, the guy was incapable of anything for even "your grandmother to be afraid of", you probably have not read his resume...

and actually it is the first real step on the road map - wait until you see step two...

[Rhiannon12866]

118. I didn't realize that my grandmother would make such an impact here, LOL!

Actually, she wouldn't have been afraid of him or anyone else I can possibly think of. Yes, I am well aware of what this guy stood for and what he was capable of. But what are we faced with now? Further bombings, "targeted killings" and young children with bombs strapped to their small bodies. Is this a fitting alternative? Anyone with any sense of immediate history could have told you that this would follow.

on edit: fixed typo

[Gimel]

119. Faced with the future

Clearing out the head of Hamas is not going to increase their power or their attacks. They already were going at the top of their ability to send in bombers. That little kids are being outfitted with bombs is an indication that they are indeed financially and morally bankrupt. Good riddance to Yassin. It's about time.

By the way, his bio says he raised 11 children in a three room apartment. That's power.

[Rhiannon12866]

123. Thanks for the information

I guess he had a great deal of power. But how does assassinating him eliminate the threat of suicide bombers? I would think that his successors would just be more angry and their need to retaliate that much more fierce. That seems, to me, to be the opposite of what we are hoping for, which is an end to the violence. Am I alone in this? Apparently so. :shrug:

[JETS]

113. PLEASE!

I guess your grandmother wasn't a Jew living in Israel. This frail old man in a wheelchair was the "spiritual leader" of an organization dedicated to killing innocent civilians.

FYI, Yassin was paralyzed since he was a child. It didn't stop him from organizing the terrorist organization, Hamas.

[bluesoul]

114. Your

grandmother didn't live in the Occupied Territories being blown up by a IDF rocket either...

[JETS]

115. NO

and she wouldn't approve of kids being manipulated into murdering innocent people by telling them that if they carry out their "mission from God," they will be able to rape virgins in the afterlife.

[bluesoul]

116. More

prejudice, stereotyping and generalization against Arabs, nothing new here... Moving on...

[Rhiannon12866]

122. No, my grandmother never lived in the occupied territories

But if she had, they would be much better organized and would receive much more aid than they are getting! She was pretty formidable. She did visit this region, however, and her heart went out to anyone forced to live under this threat of violence. She lived through two World Wars and knew what it was like.

[Rhiannon12866]

121. Welcome to DU, JETS

No, my grandmother never lived in Israel, but she did visit there. Yes, I realize that this man was the organizer of a terrorist organization, but eliminating him is just going to greatly exacerbate the problem, hardly eliminate it. This process needs to be about waging peace, not waging "targeted killings."

[calkooni]

120. America, let me put this killing into perspective for you.......

Cutting out all the propaganda, lies, prejudice and bias we hear from all sides.....

You need to understanding the meaning of this killing by looking at it from a similar perspective....

Muslims believe in Jihad and dying a martyr. Shiekh Yassin resisted Israel and lead Hamas, fully aware that he'd be killed. He always asked to die a martyr. That was his ultimate goal. To live by his convictions till the end and die resisting. He didn't live for life on this earth, which he considered merely a crossroad. To him and all Muslims life starts in the hereafter.


The bottom-line today in America is making the buck! Everything in this country is geared toward making it big. If you don't have cash you have nothing, you're nobody. Fame and Wealth is everything. Where else on earth can you live and truly enjoy life better than in the land of the free and brave. America fights to defend it's freedom to do as it pleases.

WTC was a symbol that truly embodied the essence of America

Shiekh Yassin was symbol for the Palestinians equivalent to the WTC. Not only was he a symbol of resistance against oppression in his feeble self, he was also their religious leader......

Allah is to Muslims what the Dollar is to Americans....

The Palestinians revenge for this killed will be extremely strong, I fear. I’m glad they’ve confirmed America will not be targeted.