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The Elimination of Imad Mughniyeh

[Ha'aretz] Editorial - In December 2006, Israel's Supreme Court authorized the defense establishment to carry out targeted killings as an unavoidable part of the war against terror. This license to kill was restricted through a number of stringent conditions. It cannot come in revenge, or as punishment for a past terrorist act, but to prevent future terrorism. The threat posed by that person must be "strong and convincing" and the person must be party to "continuous activity." The Supreme Court forbids its use when the person can be arrested without posing a threat to the lives of soldiers. It seems that according to the rules set by the Supreme Court, Imad Mughniyeh justly deserved his assassination. When there is no choice, when terrorism directed against Western, Israeli and Jewish targets is evil and senseless, and cannot be contained through diplomatic means, no method has been invented that is more reasonable than the assassination of those who have made terrorism their life's work. The argument that the price of Mughniyeh's assassination may be high and cost human lives is not applicable in this case, when no one can assess what the cost would be if Mughniyeh was allowed to live. There can be no doubt about the future plans of the person who was considered Hizbullah's chief strategist and head of its operations. In a war where there is no possibility of compromise that can end it, the sole option possible is the use of force. In the foreseeable future, it seems, all that Israel can do is deter and foil terrorism, in parallel with peace talks with those who have been weaned from terrorism.
2008-02-15 01:00:00
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