Aa
Cleric, considered Hezbollah's first spiritual leader, dies
Cleric, considered Hezbollah's first spiritual leader, dies
By the CNN Wire Staff
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Ayatollah Fadlallah to be buried Tuesday
* Lebanese PM: Fadlallah was "a great national and spiritual scholar"
* Hezbollah: He was a "prominent advocate of Islamic unity"
* He was closely associated with Hezbollah when it formed almost 30 years ago
RELATED TOPICS
* Hezbollah
* Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, considered Hezbollah's first spiritual leader, has died, his office told CNN Sunday.
According to Hezbollah's website, Fadlallah will be buried Tuesday after the noon prayer at Beirut's al-Imamain al-Hassanein mosque in the capital's Shiite-dominated southern neighborhood.
Two days ago, a source in his office told CNN that Fadlallah had been hospitalized in Lebanon and was in "critical condition."
The hospitalization came after widespread rumors that the Shiite leader may not live much longer.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri called Fadlallah a "great national and spiritual scholar."
"He was at all times and circumstances the voice of moderation, calling for the unity of Lebanese in particular and the Muslims in general, rejecting -- and issuing religious edicts against -- strife, and calling for dialogue as a mean to resolve differences," Hariri said.
"He taught us to be a people of dialogue and to reject injustice and resist occupation," Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said in a statement Sunday.
Fadlallah was born in 1935 in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, and completed his Quranic studies there, according to his website.
He has lived in Lebanon since the 1960s and became a spiritual leader of Hezbollah after it was founded in 1982 in response to an Israeli invasion.
In recent years, however, Fadlallah had become distanced from Hezbollah's Iran-influenced leadership.
"He stood with great courage and clarity supporting the resistance against the Zionist enemy and was a prominent advocate of Islamic unity fighting division and strife," Hezbollah said in a statement.
His views on various topics, including the role of women, are laid out on his website and are considered liberal for a Shiite cleric. But he never swayed from his criticism of Israel.
In a letter penned to President Barack Obama last year, Fadlallah said: "The size of support and cover-up provided by your country for the Zionist entity has become known. This entity was established on the land whose people were uprooted by the power of iron and fire. The subsequent American policies have contributed to the loss of the Palestinian cause, despite the ratification of many Security Council resolutions."
The United States considers Hezbollah, which has close ties to Iran and Syria, a terrorist organization. The Shiite group is a major provider of social services in Lebanon but also operates a militant wing.
CNN's Nada Husseini contributed to this report.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/07/04/lebanon.grand.ayatollah/index.html
By the CNN Wire Staff
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Ayatollah Fadlallah to be buried Tuesday
* Lebanese PM: Fadlallah was "a great national and spiritual scholar"
* Hezbollah: He was a "prominent advocate of Islamic unity"
* He was closely associated with Hezbollah when it formed almost 30 years ago
RELATED TOPICS
* Hezbollah
* Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, considered Hezbollah's first spiritual leader, has died, his office told CNN Sunday.
According to Hezbollah's website, Fadlallah will be buried Tuesday after the noon prayer at Beirut's al-Imamain al-Hassanein mosque in the capital's Shiite-dominated southern neighborhood.
Two days ago, a source in his office told CNN that Fadlallah had been hospitalized in Lebanon and was in "critical condition."
The hospitalization came after widespread rumors that the Shiite leader may not live much longer.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri called Fadlallah a "great national and spiritual scholar."
"He was at all times and circumstances the voice of moderation, calling for the unity of Lebanese in particular and the Muslims in general, rejecting -- and issuing religious edicts against -- strife, and calling for dialogue as a mean to resolve differences," Hariri said.
"He taught us to be a people of dialogue and to reject injustice and resist occupation," Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said in a statement Sunday.
Fadlallah was born in 1935 in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, and completed his Quranic studies there, according to his website.
He has lived in Lebanon since the 1960s and became a spiritual leader of Hezbollah after it was founded in 1982 in response to an Israeli invasion.
In recent years, however, Fadlallah had become distanced from Hezbollah's Iran-influenced leadership.
"He stood with great courage and clarity supporting the resistance against the Zionist enemy and was a prominent advocate of Islamic unity fighting division and strife," Hezbollah said in a statement.
His views on various topics, including the role of women, are laid out on his website and are considered liberal for a Shiite cleric. But he never swayed from his criticism of Israel.
In a letter penned to President Barack Obama last year, Fadlallah said: "The size of support and cover-up provided by your country for the Zionist entity has become known. This entity was established on the land whose people were uprooted by the power of iron and fire. The subsequent American policies have contributed to the loss of the Palestinian cause, despite the ratification of many Security Council resolutions."
The United States considers Hezbollah, which has close ties to Iran and Syria, a terrorist organization. The Shiite group is a major provider of social services in Lebanon but also operates a militant wing.
CNN's Nada Husseini contributed to this report.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/07/04/lebanon.grand.ayatollah/index.html
Again I do not know why I am responding inasmuch as you will never acknowledge any opinion opposing yours as having validity and being employed as you are not I actually have better things to do than channeling pain in vituperate posts.
I wish you well and do appreciate the copious amounts of free time you have to spend proselytizing your own beliefs. I do appreciate how much time you spare for the rest of us from your volunteer work, children, possible foster children, church and husband. And I am truly honored that they do not miss you as you take their causes to the web.
Champaign, U.S.A./The Hague, Netherlands (19 Jan 2010). -- Professor Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, U.S.A. has filed a Complaint with the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) in The Hague against U.S. citizens George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Condoleezza Rice, and Alberto Gonzales (the “Accused”) for their criminal policy and practice of “extraordinary rendition” perpetrated upon about 100 human beings. This term is really their euphemism for the enforced disappearance of persons and their consequent torture. This criminal policy and practice by the Accused constitute Crimes against Humanity in violation of the Rome Statute establishing the I.C.C.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute. Nevertheless the Accused have ordered and been responsible for the commission of I.C.C. statutory crimes within the respective territories of many I.C.C. member states, including several in Europe. Consequently, the I.C.C. has jurisdiction to prosecute the Accused for their I.C.C. statutory crimes under Rome Statute article 12(2)(a) that affords the I.C.C. jurisdiction to prosecute for I.C.C. statutory crimes committed in I.C.C. member states.
The Complaint requests (1) that the I.C.C. Prosecutor open an investigation of the Accused on his own accord under Rome Statute article 15(1); and (2) that the I.C.C. Prosecutor also formally “submit to the [I.C.C.] Pre-Trial Chamber a request for authorization of an investigation” of the Accused under Rome Statute article 15(3).
For similar reasons, the Highest Level Officials of the Obama administration risk the filing of a follow-up Complaint with the I.C.C. if they do not immediately terminate the Accused’s criminal policy and practice of “extraordinary rendition,” which the Obama administration has continued to implement.
The Complaint concludes with a request that the I.C.C. Prosecutor obtain International Arrest Warrants for the Accused from the I.C.C. in accordance with Rome Statute articles 58(1)(a), 58(1)(b)(i), 58(1)(b)(ii), and 58(1)(b)(iii).
Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
Law Building
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: 217-333-7954
Fax: 217-244-1478
The Honorable Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Office of the Prosecutor
International Criminal Court
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM, The Hague
The Netherlands
I wish you well and do appreciate the copious amounts of free time you have to spend proselytizing your own beliefs. I do appreciate how much time you spare for the rest of us from your volunteer work, children, possible foster children, church and husband. And I am truly honored that they do not miss you as you take their causes to the web.
Champaign, U.S.A./The Hague, Netherlands (19 Jan 2010). -- Professor Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, U.S.A. has filed a Complaint with the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) in The Hague against U.S. citizens George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Condoleezza Rice, and Alberto Gonzales (the “Accused”) for their criminal policy and practice of “extraordinary rendition” perpetrated upon about 100 human beings. This term is really their euphemism for the enforced disappearance of persons and their consequent torture. This criminal policy and practice by the Accused constitute Crimes against Humanity in violation of the Rome Statute establishing the I.C.C.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute. Nevertheless the Accused have ordered and been responsible for the commission of I.C.C. statutory crimes within the respective territories of many I.C.C. member states, including several in Europe. Consequently, the I.C.C. has jurisdiction to prosecute the Accused for their I.C.C. statutory crimes under Rome Statute article 12(2)(a) that affords the I.C.C. jurisdiction to prosecute for I.C.C. statutory crimes committed in I.C.C. member states.
The Complaint requests (1) that the I.C.C. Prosecutor open an investigation of the Accused on his own accord under Rome Statute article 15(1); and (2) that the I.C.C. Prosecutor also formally “submit to the [I.C.C.] Pre-Trial Chamber a request for authorization of an investigation” of the Accused under Rome Statute article 15(3).
For similar reasons, the Highest Level Officials of the Obama administration risk the filing of a follow-up Complaint with the I.C.C. if they do not immediately terminate the Accused’s criminal policy and practice of “extraordinary rendition,” which the Obama administration has continued to implement.
The Complaint concludes with a request that the I.C.C. Prosecutor obtain International Arrest Warrants for the Accused from the I.C.C. in accordance with Rome Statute articles 58(1)(a), 58(1)(b)(i), 58(1)(b)(ii), and 58(1)(b)(iii).
Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
Law Building
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: 217-333-7954
Fax: 217-244-1478
The Honorable Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Office of the Prosecutor
International Criminal Court
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM, The Hague
The Netherlands
Thank you Sam. I will look into the spy rings from Israel later today. I seriously didn't know which country's spy ring you meant.
As for requesting sources, you are entitled to your opinions. However please keep in mind that the MedHelp policy for this forum is that it must be a current item in the news. I've had a post deleted simply for being 3 weeks old. Others have as well. As you are the poster making the affirmative argument, the burden of proof is incumbent on you. Besides, I shouldn't have to do your research for you. If you will notice, posters do give their sources url. You yourself posted not long ago, a piece dated over a year old. And as you proved yourself in the above post, statements not backed up with fact are subject to being totally incorrect.
But if you don't want to give your sources or reply to my posts, that is certainly your option.
Sara
As for requesting sources, you are entitled to your opinions. However please keep in mind that the MedHelp policy for this forum is that it must be a current item in the news. I've had a post deleted simply for being 3 weeks old. Others have as well. As you are the poster making the affirmative argument, the burden of proof is incumbent on you. Besides, I shouldn't have to do your research for you. If you will notice, posters do give their sources url. You yourself posted not long ago, a piece dated over a year old. And as you proved yourself in the above post, statements not backed up with fact are subject to being totally incorrect.
But if you don't want to give your sources or reply to my posts, that is certainly your option.
Sara
The Israelis spy ring etc. posted above.
Though honestly I don't think I am going to bother to respond to you anymore. You are more than capable of running a simple boolean search yet say you cannot find things that require the simplest searches?
Essentially the reality indicated by your responses sometimes seems to indicate less of a desire to argue a point but more a desire to acknowledge any reality outside of that which you desire.
RE: War Crimes? Apparently there was a change.
Belgium rethinks war crimes law
Belgium's governing parties are scrambling to amend a controversial law which some fear could be used in a war crimes lawsuit against US President George W Bush.
The law allows Belgian courts to pass judgment on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, regardless of where the alleged acts took place or the nationality of the accused.
Critics have warned that a case against President Bush could be filed under the law, known as universal competence, and Belgium's role as host to international institutions could be threatened.
"I expect there to be, any day, a suit against President Bush in Belgium," said Herman De Croo, president of the lower house of parliament.
I expect there to be, any day, a suit against President Bush
Herman De Croo
Belgian parliament
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt hosted intense negotiations among political leaders from his coalition to discuss the threat, parliamentary sources said.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned last week that Belgium's status as an international hub may be jeopardised by the legislation, which applies to officials once they leave office.
"It's a serious problem," said Mr Powell, after he was named last week in a lawsuit for alleged crimes during the 1991 Gulf War, along with former President George Bush Snr and current Vice President **** Cheney.
The lawsuit was filed by seven Iraqi families over the bombing of a civilian shelter in Baghdad that killed 403 people.
Mr Powell served as the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and Cheney as defence secretary during the 1991 Gulf War.
Some 30 current or former political leaders are facing action under the law, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Relations are already tense between the United States and Belgium, which has been a fierce critic of the war on Iraq and helped spark an unprecedented crisis at Nato last month.
Brussels regional leader Francois-Xavier de Donnea warned that action taken under the universal competence law risked calling into question the role of city as the seat of international institutions.
Compromise proposal
Discussion of the law comes only a week before Belgium's parliament is due to be dissolved before legislative elections scheduled for 18 May.
According to parliamentary sources, the parties in the ruling coalition are divided over the extent of amendments to the law.
Mr Verhofstadt's Liberals, backed by Flemish-speaking Socialists, have proposed a "diplomatic filter".
This would allow the government to send any cases to the country where the alleged crimes took place, providing it is democratic.
Francophone socialists and ecologists fear that the law would be made toothless if overly radical amendments are allowed.
Mr Powell said last week that Belgium should take the warnings about the law seriously - warnings that are all the more topical after the start of a war which critics claim is illegal.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/2886931.stm
Published: 2003/03/26 00:31:07 GMT
© BBC MMX
Though honestly I don't think I am going to bother to respond to you anymore. You are more than capable of running a simple boolean search yet say you cannot find things that require the simplest searches?
Essentially the reality indicated by your responses sometimes seems to indicate less of a desire to argue a point but more a desire to acknowledge any reality outside of that which you desire.
RE: War Crimes? Apparently there was a change.
Belgium rethinks war crimes law
Belgium's governing parties are scrambling to amend a controversial law which some fear could be used in a war crimes lawsuit against US President George W Bush.
The law allows Belgian courts to pass judgment on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, regardless of where the alleged acts took place or the nationality of the accused.
Critics have warned that a case against President Bush could be filed under the law, known as universal competence, and Belgium's role as host to international institutions could be threatened.
"I expect there to be, any day, a suit against President Bush in Belgium," said Herman De Croo, president of the lower house of parliament.
I expect there to be, any day, a suit against President Bush
Herman De Croo
Belgian parliament
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt hosted intense negotiations among political leaders from his coalition to discuss the threat, parliamentary sources said.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned last week that Belgium's status as an international hub may be jeopardised by the legislation, which applies to officials once they leave office.
"It's a serious problem," said Mr Powell, after he was named last week in a lawsuit for alleged crimes during the 1991 Gulf War, along with former President George Bush Snr and current Vice President **** Cheney.
The lawsuit was filed by seven Iraqi families over the bombing of a civilian shelter in Baghdad that killed 403 people.
Mr Powell served as the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and Cheney as defence secretary during the 1991 Gulf War.
Some 30 current or former political leaders are facing action under the law, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Relations are already tense between the United States and Belgium, which has been a fierce critic of the war on Iraq and helped spark an unprecedented crisis at Nato last month.
Brussels regional leader Francois-Xavier de Donnea warned that action taken under the universal competence law risked calling into question the role of city as the seat of international institutions.
Compromise proposal
Discussion of the law comes only a week before Belgium's parliament is due to be dissolved before legislative elections scheduled for 18 May.
According to parliamentary sources, the parties in the ruling coalition are divided over the extent of amendments to the law.
Mr Verhofstadt's Liberals, backed by Flemish-speaking Socialists, have proposed a "diplomatic filter".
This would allow the government to send any cases to the country where the alleged crimes took place, providing it is democratic.
Francophone socialists and ecologists fear that the law would be made toothless if overly radical amendments are allowed.
Mr Powell said last week that Belgium should take the warnings about the law seriously - warnings that are all the more topical after the start of a war which critics claim is illegal.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/2886931.stm
Published: 2003/03/26 00:31:07 GMT
© BBC MMX
As far as Belgium goes, I haven't found that paricular statement but I did find this :
"Some visitors to Guantánamo have expressed more positive views on the camp. Alain Grignard, who visited Gitmo in 2006, objected to the detainees' legal status but declared that "it is a model prison, where people are better treated than in Belgian prisons."[173] Grignard, then deputy head of Brussels' federal police anti-terrorism unit, served as expert on a trip by a group of lawmakers from the assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE). "I know no Belgian prison where each inmate receives its Muslim kit," Mr Grignard said."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp#Criticism_and_condemnation
I found a lot of criticism of the CIA secret prisons. And personally, although I have no sympathy for jihadists, these camps should have at least been run by the Justice Department secretly. Or perhaps a sealed warrant signed by a federal judge. I like my government to work within the system.
But I never found a reference to Belgium declaring Bush and Cheney as terrorists. But I did find this interesting article on Belgian Professors and Intellectuals on Bush:
http://lvb.net/item/884
And I think I'll save the Green Berets for tomorrow. The spy rings in the US? Whose and when? I've no idea to what you are referring. Sorry I really don't know what the question is.
"Some visitors to Guantánamo have expressed more positive views on the camp. Alain Grignard, who visited Gitmo in 2006, objected to the detainees' legal status but declared that "it is a model prison, where people are better treated than in Belgian prisons."[173] Grignard, then deputy head of Brussels' federal police anti-terrorism unit, served as expert on a trip by a group of lawmakers from the assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE). "I know no Belgian prison where each inmate receives its Muslim kit," Mr Grignard said."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp#Criticism_and_condemnation
I found a lot of criticism of the CIA secret prisons. And personally, although I have no sympathy for jihadists, these camps should have at least been run by the Justice Department secretly. Or perhaps a sealed warrant signed by a federal judge. I like my government to work within the system.
But I never found a reference to Belgium declaring Bush and Cheney as terrorists. But I did find this interesting article on Belgian Professors and Intellectuals on Bush:
http://lvb.net/item/884
And I think I'll save the Green Berets for tomorrow. The spy rings in the US? Whose and when? I've no idea to what you are referring. Sorry I really don't know what the question is.
Do you know what the primary mission of the Green Beret are? You might want to read up on the topic.
Cool, just so we know each country defines who they believe is a terrorist. So the Belgians declared Bush and Cheney Terrorists, The Pakistanis and Dubai leaders believe Israelis are terrorists, The IRA believe the British Parliment are terrorists. (As a legitimate political party that's cool right? The countries we have freedom fighters in believe we are terroriists (after all we did train bin Laden) so whose definitions do we use?
And you did not address the spy rings in the US? That was ok? American deaths and all?
And you did not address the spy rings in the US? That was ok? American deaths and all?
Sam: I'll say this about it. When you first said assassination squads, I thought of gangs roaming around shooting whomever they saw. Just not the case.
The Mossad is killing known terrorists. What you call murder, I call public service. You will never convince me that killing a known terrorist, no matter the role he played in terror, is murder. I call it service to humanity. So far as I'm concerned, the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. Period.
I respect your right not to agree with me. You have every right to vehemently disagree with my opinions on this issue. But arguing it is an absolute waste of time. My views will not change. I'm normally open to other ideas but not on this issue.
So Sam, lets agree to disagree on this one. That's the best I can do. I hope you can accept it. If not, oh well, I tried.
The Mossad is killing known terrorists. What you call murder, I call public service. You will never convince me that killing a known terrorist, no matter the role he played in terror, is murder. I call it service to humanity. So far as I'm concerned, the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. Period.
I respect your right not to agree with me. You have every right to vehemently disagree with my opinions on this issue. But arguing it is an absolute waste of time. My views will not change. I'm normally open to other ideas but not on this issue.
So Sam, lets agree to disagree on this one. That's the best I can do. I hope you can accept it. If not, oh well, I tried.
If you would prefer here is a link to some youtube archived fox news articles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEOecRtBU7U&feature=player_embedded#at=16
I know some people on here prefer FOX as an "unbiased" source.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEOecRtBU7U&feature=player_embedded#at=16
I know some people on here prefer FOX as an "unbiased" source.
The assassination policy is well known, admitted to by Israel publicly and essentially is a " if your not for us your against us deal"
Assassinations:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israeli_assassinations
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7258631/British-threat-to-Israel-over-Dubai-Hamas-assassination.html
http://www.counterpunch.org/niva03242004.html
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22083779.html?dids=22083779:22083779&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29%2C+1996&author=Eetta+Prince-Gibson&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Israeli+Assassination+Report+Berates+Security+Agency%2C+Top+Officials&pqatl=google
http://www.fpif.org/articles/defense_of_israeli_assassination_policy_by_the_bush_administration_and_democratic_leaders
Israeli Assasination Policy
By BBC News Online's Tarik Kafala
The Israeli Government of Ariel Sharon is, like its predecessors, committed to the policy of assassinating individuals who it believes pose a threat to its citizens.
I can tell you unequivocally what the policy is. If anyone has committed or is planning to carry out terrorist attacks, he has to be hit. It is effective, precise, and just
Israeli Minister Ephraim Sneh
Palestinian officials say that about 60 individuals have been assassinated since the start of the current Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in September last year - several belonging to Yasser Arafat's political faction Fatah.
Israeli officials have at times boldly admitted that the policy exists and is being pursued vigorously.
"I can tell you unequivocally what the policy is," former deputy defence minister and current transport minister Ephraim Sneh said earlier this year.
"If anyone has committed or is planning to carry out terrorist attacks, he has to be hit. It is effective, precise, and just."
Recently officials have indicated that the Israeli army is being given a freer hand to carry out targeted killings of Palestinian activists.
The policy has come in for criticism domestically and internationally. Human rights organisation Amnesty International has called the assassinations extra judicial killings. The policy has even been challenged in the Israeli high court.
Long tradition
Israel has a long history of assassination operations targeting individuals.
Israeli helicopter
Israeli gunship helicopters are the preferred means of assassination
Most famously, in 1987 in Tunisia, Israel assassinated Abu Jihad, the PLO's military leader and second in command.
In 1997, one special operation went humiliatingly wrong. Two Israeli agents were arrested in Jordan following an attempt to poison a leading member of Hamas.
Israeli military officials made it official policy in early November 1999, describing the plan as "initiated attacks" to stop members of Yasser Arafat's Fatah militia, known as Tanzim, from firing on Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
Friends become enemies
Israel has always claimed the right to selectively assassinate its enemies.
But the current strategy also targets its former partners in the peace process, who once co-operated with the Israeli security services in arresting Hamas and Islamic Jihad bombers.
In December, Israeli forces assassinated Thabet Thabet, a dentist, senior official in the West Bank health service, and a leading political figure in Fatah.
Massoud Ayad, one of Mr Arafat's bodyguards, was assassinated in February.
At the beginning of April, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired on a car in the Gaza Strip, killing a member of the militant Islamic Jihad group, Mohammed Abdel Al.
Israeli opposition
The Israeli left has argued that the assassination policy is gangster behaviour unbecoming of a government and against Israeli law.
Those opposing the policy say that many of those assassinated could have just as easily been arrested and tried.
Israel's high court in February heard an appeal against the policy of assassination, bought by Siham, the widow of Thabet Thabet. The court is yet to deliver a clear ruling, but the policy continues.
Amnesty International in February harshly condemned the policy.
"The use of state assassinations by Israel against Palestinian suspects is undermining the rule of law and fuelling the cycle of violence in the region," an Amnesty report said.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israeli_assassinations
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7258631/British-threat-to-Israel-over-Dubai-Hamas-assassination.html
http://www.counterpunch.org/niva03242004.html
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22083779.html?dids=22083779:22083779&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29%2C+1996&author=Eetta+Prince-Gibson&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Israeli+Assassination+Report+Berates+Security+Agency%2C+Top+Officials&pqatl=google
http://www.fpif.org/articles/defense_of_israeli_assassination_policy_by_the_bush_administration_and_democratic_leaders
Israeli Assasination Policy
By BBC News Online's Tarik Kafala
The Israeli Government of Ariel Sharon is, like its predecessors, committed to the policy of assassinating individuals who it believes pose a threat to its citizens.
I can tell you unequivocally what the policy is. If anyone has committed or is planning to carry out terrorist attacks, he has to be hit. It is effective, precise, and just
Israeli Minister Ephraim Sneh
Palestinian officials say that about 60 individuals have been assassinated since the start of the current Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in September last year - several belonging to Yasser Arafat's political faction Fatah.
Israeli officials have at times boldly admitted that the policy exists and is being pursued vigorously.
"I can tell you unequivocally what the policy is," former deputy defence minister and current transport minister Ephraim Sneh said earlier this year.
"If anyone has committed or is planning to carry out terrorist attacks, he has to be hit. It is effective, precise, and just."
Recently officials have indicated that the Israeli army is being given a freer hand to carry out targeted killings of Palestinian activists.
The policy has come in for criticism domestically and internationally. Human rights organisation Amnesty International has called the assassinations extra judicial killings. The policy has even been challenged in the Israeli high court.
Long tradition
Israel has a long history of assassination operations targeting individuals.
Israeli helicopter
Israeli gunship helicopters are the preferred means of assassination
Most famously, in 1987 in Tunisia, Israel assassinated Abu Jihad, the PLO's military leader and second in command.
In 1997, one special operation went humiliatingly wrong. Two Israeli agents were arrested in Jordan following an attempt to poison a leading member of Hamas.
Israeli military officials made it official policy in early November 1999, describing the plan as "initiated attacks" to stop members of Yasser Arafat's Fatah militia, known as Tanzim, from firing on Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
Friends become enemies
Israel has always claimed the right to selectively assassinate its enemies.
But the current strategy also targets its former partners in the peace process, who once co-operated with the Israeli security services in arresting Hamas and Islamic Jihad bombers.
In December, Israeli forces assassinated Thabet Thabet, a dentist, senior official in the West Bank health service, and a leading political figure in Fatah.
Massoud Ayad, one of Mr Arafat's bodyguards, was assassinated in February.
At the beginning of April, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired on a car in the Gaza Strip, killing a member of the militant Islamic Jihad group, Mohammed Abdel Al.
Israeli opposition
The Israeli left has argued that the assassination policy is gangster behaviour unbecoming of a government and against Israeli law.
Those opposing the policy say that many of those assassinated could have just as easily been arrested and tried.
Israel's high court in February heard an appeal against the policy of assassination, bought by Siham, the widow of Thabet Thabet. The court is yet to deliver a clear ruling, but the policy continues.
Amnesty International in February harshly condemned the policy.
"The use of state assassinations by Israel against Palestinian suspects is undermining the rule of law and fuelling the cycle of violence in the region," an Amnesty report said.
Before I reply, I would need to know the source of your information on assassin squads and the Russia allegation. I need to know what I'm dealing with before replying.
And the deaths caused by their selling American Intelligence while receiving National welfare from our country is on whose heads? Do you have any doubt that ANY of the countries in the middle east would set us up for bad situations that benefited themselves?
"Mossad does not deliberately target civilians while hiding behind women's skirts." Everything I have heard pretty much indicates that they do not worry about targeting civillians that are not isrealli one way or another.
I notice that you do not dispute the assassin squads however. Last I heard that was, under American and International law, terrorism.
Also if you can justify selling out our agents for Israels gain as was done with Russia?
"Mossad does not deliberately target civilians while hiding behind women's skirts." Everything I have heard pretty much indicates that they do not worry about targeting civillians that are not isrealli one way or another.
I notice that you do not dispute the assassin squads however. Last I heard that was, under American and International law, terrorism.
Also if you can justify selling out our agents for Israels gain as was done with Russia?
Mossad does not deliberately target civilians while hiding behind women's skirts. Hezbollah embed themselves in heavily populated civilian areas to launch their rockets into Israel. When Israel fires back at the source of the launched rocket, the necessarily hit civilians. And those deaths are on Hezbollah's head.
Be4cause Mossad has not been involved in assassination squads, kidnapping, terrorist activities, intelligence gathering against the USA and even the trade of that information at the cost of American lives by the trading of information with Russia for looser emigration policies?
I am a simple persoou please explain the difference?
I am a simple persoou please explain the difference?
First of all, I am not a staunch defender of Israel, who has not acted in an ethical fashion towards it's neighbors on numerous ocasions.
But to Equate the Mossad with Hezbolla is absurd.
But to Equate the Mossad with Hezbolla is absurd.
Just out of curiosity why is the mossad better than Hezbollah, Strictly speaking they both seem to be terrorist organizations if you just go by actions of their members.
They are all bias. Whats new?
The most heartwarming part of this story is the Twitter of Octavia Nasr, senior editor of Mideast affairs for CNN : Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.. One of Hezbollah's giants I respect a lot.. #Lebanon
http://twitter.com/octavianasrCNN/statuses/17708145427
Sure I believe that CNN is not biased. I also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth fairy. Their own senior editor of Mideast affairs couldn't have said it better. Not just a suspicion, it's a fact.
http://twitter.com/octavianasrCNN/statuses/17708145427
Sure I believe that CNN is not biased. I also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth fairy. Their own senior editor of Mideast affairs couldn't have said it better. Not just a suspicion, it's a fact.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
