Ariel Sharon and the Execution of Sheikh Yassin

By Abu Spinoza

The Israeli assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, is designed to escalate the level of violence in Israel/Palestine. Carrying out actions that are likely to promote violence and terrorism is characteristic of Israel and Mr. Ariel Sharon, Israel’s present Prime Minister.

Like any nation Israel is entitled to peace and security and appropriate measures to defend its citizens against violence and terrorism. It is not entitled to resort to terrorist means and tactics in order to squash Palestinians’ opposition to the illegal and unjust occupation of Palestinian territories. The assassination Sheikh Yassin, along with 7 Palestinian civilians, including three of Sheikh Yassin’s bodyguards, and injuring 17 others, including two of Sheikh Yassin’s son, is completely illegal.

According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the other 7 victims killed were identified as:

1. Mo’men Ibrahim al-Yazouri, 28;
   
2. Rateb ‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Aloul, 35;
   
3. Khamis Mushtaha, 32;
   
4. meer Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 25;
   
5. Rabi’ ‘Abdul Hai ‘Abdul ‘Aal, 18, a bodyguard of Sheikh assin
   
6. Ayoub Ahmed ‘Atallah, 26, a bodyguard of Sheikh Yassin;
   
7. Khalil ‘Abdul Elah Abu Jayab, 30, a bodyguard of Sheikh Yassin.

Israeli authorities believe that Sheikh Yassin was responsible for various acts of terrorism, including suicide attacks, carried out against Israeli civilians. Since Israel is the occupier of the West Bank and Gaza, there is nothing that prevented Israel from placing charges of terrorism against Sheikh Yassin. Sheik Yassin was a quadriplegic man in a wheelchair. If the Israeli authorities and Mr. Sharon were at all interested in bringing charges of terrorism and conspiracy in terrorist actions against Yassin, the occupation forces could have easily arrested him. A trial of Yassin, if supported by evidence of complicity with terrorism, would be a great boon for Israel.

So why did Israel refuse to do this? Why did Israel choose to assassinate him rather than bring legal charges of terrorism and crimes? The reason is quite simple. Israel and Ariel Sharon are not interested in peace, negotiations, and conflict resolution. Rather they are interested solely in crushing Palestinians and their struggle for self-determination and destroying their leadership.

Hamas represents a large number of Palestinians living under occupation, and it refused to accept the false peace deals that would consign Palestinians to live in Bantustans and reservations. Hamas grew out the failure of the secular Palestinian leadership and the Arab states to advance the Palestinian issue. Hamas has been responsible for carrying out terrorist actions which should be condemned. Hamas’ program of Islamic militancy and in particular the tactics of suicide bombing and terrorism are deplorable and must be condemned unequivocally.

Attacks on civilians are completely contrary to international law and to basic Muslim morality. However, it is sheer hypocrisy for Western countries to solely condemn the terrorism of Hamas while condoning and supporting Israel’s occupation and state terrorism against Palestinians. Indeed, President George W. Bush described Ariel Sharon, the butcher of Beirut, as “a man of peace.” An entirely predictable consequence of Sharon’s decision to assassinate Sheikh Yassin is to further escalate violence. Only an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories can bring an end to violence and terrorism in Israel/Palestine.

Abu Spinoza is a columnist for pressaction.com.