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Will Bin Laden Killing Pave Way for Similar Moves by Israel?
(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - The American operation against bin Laden to a large extent employed a similar format to that used previously by Israel. Maj. Gen. Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash), former head of IDF Intelligence, explained in an interview: "We must not forget that we are not a [world] power. Not everything that is permitted to the Americans is permitted to us as well. But nevertheless, there is a gradual change in the rules of confrontation in the framework of the war on terror. A wider maneuvering space has been opened." "In the past, the countries of the West were opposed to the Israeli claim that no distinction should be made between the so-called political echelon and the military echelon in the terrorist organizations. There is an important message in the Americans' decision to do away with bin Laden. It is not possible to distinguish between the leader and the operational echelon subordinate to him. The decision-makers have to be dealt a blow. Seven years ago, when we killed senior Hamas officials such as Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, our approach was not accepted by the international community." "Pinpointed assassinations are still a very important deterrent tool against senior leaders of the terrorist organizations. It is true that every terrorist leader can be replaced. Bin Laden will also have a replacement. What is important is the continuum of assassinations that is directed at the heads of the organization and indicates to them that they too have something to lose."