(Reuters) - Following the death of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, White House National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said, "Israel has a right to defend itself." President Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and White House spokesman Scott McClellan expressed open solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism. "Let's remember that Hamas is a terrorist organization and that Sheikh Yassin himself has been heavily involved in terrorism," Rice said. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom briefed Vice President Dick Cheney hours after the operation and told reporters Washington was not involved in the decision. Rice also insisted that Washington was given no prior warning of the attack. Shalom said the attack was justified to protect Israelis from Yassin, whom he called "the godfather of the suicide bombers." He said it could help deter other militant leaders by delivering the message that "they will pay for their crimes, they will pay for the instructions that they are giving to these suicide bombers."
2004-03-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive