The targeted assassination of Hamas' leader Sheik Yassin by the Israeli Army invoked yet another flurry of criticism of Israel. Even Britain's foreign minister Jack Straw, a major player in America's war on terror, chided Israel for its "unhelpful" actions.
In light of the recent bombing in Madrid that killed more than 200 innocents and the incessant terror wave in Iraq, I find it revolting that the world would have the audacity to condemn Israel for its killing of a top terrorist leader. It's about time for the international community to realize that, like the United States and Europe, Israel is also a major target of Islamic fundamentalist terror, and only through Israel's victory over terrorism can the West be safe.
Let no one misunderstand Sheik Yassin's record. Although proclaimed as the spiritual leader of Hamas, he only inspired young adults to try to achieve martyrdom through suicide bombings.
In fact, Yassin had led Hamas through 20 years of terrorism, since its inception in the late 1980s.
Yassin's modus vivendi was simple: A refusal to accept Israel's right to exist and the use of terror to prevent any lasting agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Throughout the 1990s, Hamas attempted to derail all peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinian people through well-planned bombings of Israeli buses and restaurants. Simultaneously, Hamas appealed to the Arab youth of Palestine, pointing out the excesses of Arafat and his abandonment of Islam and his people.
This perverse recipe fostered terrorism in the West Bank and Gaza. It wasn't until 2001 that Yassin achieved global recognition when he personally endorsed suicide bombings for the second intifada, which resulted in more than 1000 Israeli and 3000 Palestinian deaths.
Many critics of the targeted assassination point out that Yassin was a blind quadriplegic -- implying that his poor physical state rendered him harmless to Israel in addition to hinting Israel was only able to kill helpless invalids. On the contrary, he was the most dangerous element to Israel because of his repugnant appeal to the youth of Palestine. His venomous tirades proved far more harmful than even the most destructive bomb a suicide bomber could carry. How could any country allow such a lethal threat to its existence remain within striking range, let alone flourish? Indeed, it is surprising that Israel allowed Yassin to remain in control of Hamas for this long.
Some of those opposed to the killing objected to the timing of the attack. They stated it would only increase "street-level anger" of the Palestinians and perpetuate violence.
Although there was a small spike in the Palestinian violence immediately after the killing of Yassin, the widespread rioting and attacks predicted by some critics never materialized. Perhaps the Palestinians grew tired of the steady, caustic rhetoric of Yassin. Or maybe they grew weary of the nonstop violence due to repercussions of the intifada. Nonetheless, Yassin's protg, Al-Rantisi, himself a survivor of a failed Israeli Army assassination attempt, enthusiastically picks up the banner of Hamas. However, it seems that Hamas' lifespan is running out.
In reality, the killing of Yassin has the potential to serve as a means for the Palestinian Authority to restore some vestige of control in Gaza.
Impending "planned" Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza pullout has left many intellectuals pondering the fate of the seemingly doomed Strip. Israeli officials refuse to repeat the same errors of Barak's 2000 withdrawal from south Lebanon, which allowed Hezbollah to establish a veritable terrorist state. A similar plan for Gaza would end catastrophically for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The strike on Yassin should be a prime example on how the United states and other Western countries should deal with the threat of Islamic radical groups. Instead of condemning the strike, it should be seen as a step toward victory over terrorism.
