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The assassination in Dubai

Rumors and accusations are flying. Israel assassinated a Hamas leader in an Arab country — and did it very sloppily — or so say the shouters and criers. Many call for the resignation of the head of Israel’s Mossad. Still others say that Israel compromised its relations with its allies in Europe, having used forged British, German and French passports to get the assassins into, and out of, Dubai, where the killing took place.

Just one thing: The only source for almost all of this information is Dubai. Dubai has its own interests, as one Israel official drily commented.

Of course, it is possible that Israel killed the Hamas operative, who was chiefly responsible for the smuggling of Iranian weapons into Gaza for use against Israel. Remove all political considerations for the moment, and consider the question only on a moral basis. It is difficult to discern the slightest difference between Israel’s assassination of a Hamas terrorist in Gaza as he builds a weapons to fire on civilians in Israel, and between the assassination of a Hamas terrorist in Dubai, as he arranged for the importation of weapons to be used against Israel. Hamas has declared war against Israel. It is not wrong that Israel respond. Read the related news coverage

Meanwhile, hardly a day can pass before another news flash emanates from Dubai. Last Saturday Dubai police claimed that they expected soon to announce that they have “firm evidence” that the Mossad was involved in the killing of the Hamas military commander, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Of course, it is possible that Israel was involved and did sloppily leave behind such  evidence. But on the basis of possibilities, one does get upset.

Then there are the feverish Hamas websites, which claim that two former Palestinians associated with Hamas’ bitter rival, Fatah, were involved in the assassination: Anwar Shheibar and Ahmad Hassanain.

Not to be outdone, Interpol posted wanted notices and images on Feb. 18 of 11 suspects. But . . . the international police organization “does not believe that we know the true identities of these wanted persons.”

In another statement, the Dubai Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim said he was “99%, if not 100%” certain that the Mossad was behind Mabhouh’s death. As we went to press, Dubai announced it had arrested another 15 suspects — 26 in all.

All of which begs the question: So what? Again, putting aside possible logistic sloppiness (leaving evidence behind) and possible political stupidity (using false passports of allies), what does any Arab or European leader expect? That Israel is not going to use every resource at its disposal to get at its enemies? That Israel, faced with Iran advocating the genocide of Israelis, will not kill Iranian nuclear scientists? Or that Israel, faced with Hamas desiring the destruction of Israel, will not kill its military operatives?

In the case of the Dubai assassination, the reaction in Dubai and in European diplomatic circles reflects more than the usual hypocrisy over  Israel. It reflects either a breathtaking naivete or a ritualized diplomatic dance.

As for Hamas and Iran, the solution truly is simple. Direct. Pithy. Dignified. Foolproof. Sacred. Legal. Repercussive. Lucid. Beneficial. Shining. Pivotal. Nay, revolutionary. Just accept the existence of Israel, the Jewish state.

End of assassinations.

End of wars.

End of conflict.

Purim began and ended in Iran. When ancient Iran stopped going after the Jews, Iran flourished.




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