Israeli's To Resume Targeted Killings (moved from ATSNN), page 1

Israeli officials confirmed wednesday that the targeted assasination of senior Islamic Jihad members would resume in the face of renewed attacks by the terrorist organization. Khaled al-Batsh, an Islamic Jihad leader, warned of "terrible consequences" for Israel should it resume the practice. The Israeli government officials stated that any means necessary to "neutralize" targets would be used to prevent terror attacks and militant fire during it's planned Gaza pullout.

www.msnbc.msn.com
The Israeli threats, prompted by a flare-up of Islamic Jihad militant attacks on Jewish settlers in Gaza, underscored the deterioration of a four-month-old cease-fire and followed an acrimonious Israeli-Palestinian summit.

Israel shelved “targeted killings” of militants in February as part of a truce deal. But resurgent violence has raised the specter of disruption to Israel’s planned August withdrawal from Gaza and dimmed hopes for “road map” peace talks afterwards.

Word that the assassination policy had been dusted off came with Israeli confirmation of a failed missile strike on Tuesday while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas were holding tense talks in Jerusalem.

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In the tensions between Israel and Palestinian militant groups it is often innocent civilians who pay the price. Homicide bombers boarding crowded city buses to carry out martyrdom in the name of their cause and Isreali war planes and helicopters firing missiles into crowded markets, both have blood on their hands. The cycle of violence seems never ending in that troubled region.

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[edit on 6/22/2005 by looking4truth]