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The Necessity of Targeted Assassinations
(Los Angeles Times) Steven R. David - Targeted killing - intentionally killing individuals who are on their way to commit a terrorist attack or those who are behind such attacks - is a moral and appropriate response to the terror launched against Israel by Palestinian leaders. Targeted killings make an important contribution to Israeli security by keeping terrorists on the run and gradually eliminating some of the skilled operatives. As bad as things are now, they may have been even worse, or would get worse in the future, without the policy of targeted killing. When targeted killing works, the only one killed is the perpetrator (or backer) of the terrorist act. This is far better than major military sweeps that kill and injure countless innocents. As long as the Palestinian Authority is unwilling or unable to curb those who deliberately seek to kill innocent Israelis and bring these attackers to justice, it is up to Israel to do so. Targeted killing does this, and at a cost that is far less harmful to the Palestinians than its alternatives.