And prove to all the world that it is has more in common with Cosa Nostra than with real democracy where rule of law means something? Bravo, more people like you, James Taranto and Daniel above and who will need Iran, Hamas or Hizballah to finish Israel off?
I'm not sure why you assume that Israel, as a democratic state where the rule of law reigns, would not have the right to do something like this.
The law in Israel (and it is similar in almost all western democracies) allows for the head of the government to direct the secret services to carry out assassinations that he believes are necessary for the security of the state.
The fact that Kuntar is in Israeli custody doesn't change the fact that his assassination may well be necessary for the security of Israel.
This is a decision the LAW allows the Israeli government to make.
First, I am not sure whether law in Israel (and it is similar in almost all western democracies) allows for the head of the government to direct the secret services to carry out assassinations that he believes are necessary for the security of the state and I am a bit lazy to check it right now. It's not terribly important here.
On the other hand, I am perfectly sure that no law in pretty much every country in the world , let alone a democratic one, does not allow extra-juridical killing of prisoners held in state’s custody, be they criminals or prisoners of war or political prisoners. If there were such a “law” somewhere its legitimacy would be about the same as of a law that, for example, would give a head of government a right to have sex with any woman he desires. Such a “law” would fly in the face of anything we consider human decency.
Furthermore, you suggest that Kuntar’s ”assassination may well be necessary for the security of Israel”. “Necessary”? Really? How do you define “necessary”? There would not be security in Israel unless Kuntar is assassinated? What a load of bull. He is a repellent terrorist but he is a small fish. Or, if you think that Hezballah or anybody will tremble from fear of Israel seeing how it ruthlessly executes one of its prisoners and think twice next time before attacking Israel, you should reexamine your understanding of human psychology and your knowledge of history as well. Any time Israel behaved like a criminal it did not really manage to scare anybody, only to engender more animosity.
Also, you might learn that judgments of heads of governments as to what constitutes a legitimate target for assassination necessary for security of state are often awfully wrong. For example, Spielberg’s (pretty bad) movie “Munich” conveys nonetheless the sad truth that most of those killed during operation “Wrath of God” not only had nothing to do with the Munich massacre but also were of the more moderate wing of Palestinian resistance, the alleged lack of whom is so lamented by Israel right and left alike (read, for instance, this summary.) Same people that thought it was such a splendid idea to assassinate PLO leaders also thought it was a splendid idea to support Hamas “as an alternative” or whatever other magnificent strategic planning these pseudo-intellectuals had.
American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.
4 comments:
that is why Moshe Plesser was such a hero.
And prove to all the world that it is has more in common with Cosa Nostra than with real democracy where rule of law means something?
Bravo, more people like you, James Taranto and Daniel above and who will need Iran, Hamas or Hizballah to finish Israel off?
Peter-
I'm not sure why you assume that Israel, as a democratic state where the rule of law reigns, would not have the right to do something like this.
The law in Israel (and it is similar in almost all western democracies) allows for the head of the government to direct the secret services to carry out assassinations that he believes are necessary for the security of the state.
The fact that Kuntar is in Israeli custody doesn't change the fact that his assassination may well be necessary for the security of Israel.
This is a decision the LAW allows the Israeli government to make.
Jerry.
First, I am not sure whether law in Israel (and it is similar in almost all western democracies) allows for the head of the government to direct the secret services to carry out assassinations that he believes are necessary for the security of the state and I am a bit lazy to check it right now. It's not terribly important here.
On the other hand, I am perfectly sure that no law in pretty much every country in the world , let alone a democratic one, does not allow extra-juridical killing of prisoners held in state’s custody, be they criminals or prisoners of war or political prisoners. If there were such a “law” somewhere its legitimacy would be about the same as of a law that, for example, would give a head of government a right to have sex with any woman he desires. Such a “law” would fly in the face of anything we consider human decency.
Furthermore, you suggest that Kuntar’s ”assassination may well be necessary for the security of Israel”. “Necessary”? Really? How do you define “necessary”? There would not be security in Israel unless Kuntar is assassinated? What a load of bull. He is a repellent terrorist but he is a small fish. Or, if you think that Hezballah or anybody will tremble from fear of Israel seeing how it ruthlessly executes one of its prisoners and think twice next time before attacking Israel, you should reexamine your understanding of human psychology and your knowledge of history as well. Any time Israel behaved like a criminal it did not really manage to scare anybody, only to engender more animosity.
Also, you might learn that judgments of heads of governments as to what constitutes a legitimate target for assassination necessary for security of state are often awfully wrong. For example, Spielberg’s (pretty bad) movie “Munich” conveys nonetheless the sad truth that most of those killed during operation “Wrath of God” not only had nothing to do with the Munich massacre but also were of the more moderate wing of Palestinian resistance, the alleged lack of whom is so lamented by Israel right and left alike (read, for instance, this summary.) Same people that thought it was such a splendid idea to assassinate PLO leaders also thought it was a splendid idea to support Hamas “as an alternative” or whatever other magnificent strategic planning these pseudo-intellectuals had.
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