Comments on: Targeted Assassinations, an Israeli Growth Industry

By: Rowan Berkeley

Rowan Berkeley — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:01:50 +0000

I see another post on here which goes into considerable detail about Mughniyeh’s supposed responsibility:
http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/02/18/ronen-bergman-mugniyah-assassination-and-the-price-of-vengeance
but I simply refuse to take the uncorroborated word of Israelis on such things. I am not going to spend much time worrying about this particular detail. I worry more about the general stance of the various unofficially official leakists, like Bob Baer, and what sort of rubbish they may be feeding us now which we don’t even notice because our preconceptions still accord it a free pass.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:17:32 +0000

Rowan: You misunderstood me or else I didn’t make myself clear. I don’t call Mugniyah a murderer for the bombings in Argentina since responsibility for those crimes is still in dispute. The Nation has published a convincing expose claiming that Hezbollah was not involved. I’m inclined to agree.

I was referring to Mugniyah’s other terrorist actions against U.S. and Israeli interests including bombing the U.S. embassy, etc. Of course, Mugniyah engaged in these crimes seeking to avenge similar crimes performed by Israel and the U.S. against allies of his. It’s really a vicious circle.

By: Amir

Amir — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:17:07 +0000

Rowan Berkely: You comment is strange as though you haven’t even read the post itself. I’m not the one to bring it up. The charge was part of the Avnery article he quotes and Silverstein referred to it in his post. In fact it is the essential premise of the post that asserts that Israeli targeted killings always boomerang. If Hizballah was not responsible for those bombings than the whole post and Avnery’s article loses its strongest argument. This is why Silverstein writes: “How many Israeli embassies or Jewish synagogues will be bombed in retaliation?” And the charge is not “completely unsubstantiated.” In fact it is much more substantiated than the charge that Israel was behind the Mughniyeh killing since absolutely NO evidence has been put forward to back that claim.

By: Rowan Berkeley

Rowan Berkeley — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:13:42 +0000

I am disappointed to see that when Amir brings up this completely unsubstantiated charge, Richard kow-tows to it:

“This is from the associted press : Israel blamed Mughniyeh for the 1992 bombing of its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which killed 29 people. Argentine prosecutors linked him to the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center that killed 85 people.”

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:04:05 +0000

at least there is some fear when u retaliate back

There is more than enough fear on both sides of this conflict. Fear doesn’t resolve conflicts or settle disputes. Negotiation does. The I-P conflict shows that tit for tat revenge produces nothing & settles nothing–except producing more fear as you correctly note.

Rabid Dogs should be put to sleep there’s no ifs n buts about it

Good for you to have such confidence in your ideas. As for me, I choose to see Israel’s enemy as human beings ;& not dogs. Seeing them so will never produce an end to the conflict as I wrote above. I hope there are not too many like you in India, otherwise your country will never solve its own regional conflicts with insurgent forces.

By: Lucky

Lucky — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:54:54 +0000

Dear all
I didnt go through the entire thread but I have one thing to say….the policy of Israel is CORRECT….I just wish the Indian Govenment had the same kind of guts.U say killing one terrorist incites more violence here in India sparing one incites more violence …… which is correct? at least there is some fear when u retaliate back
Rabid Dogs should be put to sleep there’s no ifs n buts about it

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:22:34 +0000

For the record, Amir, if a person commits a crime in country A, and then flees to country B, then I am opposed to the criminal having any sort of ’sanctuary’ in country B. At least if it’s a serious crime, go get him.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:36:50 +0000

Paul: I specifically mentioned Eichmann, not Vanunu nor Zundel. I think the Israeli prosecution & persection of Vanunu is despicable. I think Mugniyah & Doron Almog, the general to whom you referred, are cases that would rise to a sufficient order of magnitude to justify usurping sovereignty. I’ve written about Almog here & I’m in favor of bringing those who’ve engaged in criminal conduct to justice whether they be Hezbollah or IDF officers.

Amir: Israel’s case would be much stronger if it would hand over a Mugniyah to international justice, rather than Israeli justice. If there had been an international court & Israel had handed Eichmann over to it I don’t think there would be any outcry whatsoever over violation of sovereignty.

By: Amir

Amir — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:03:55 +0000

That should say resolution 138

By: Amir

Amir — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:03:01 +0000

Even Eichman’s capture was denied at first by Israel. I suggest you go to the wikipedia page on Eichman and read the part called “international dispute over capture”.
Here is a link to UN Security Council Resolution 180 from 1960. If Eichman wasn’t a Nazi but was merely a Hizballah man, the language would have been much harsher against Israel.

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/157/27/IMG/NR015727.pdf?OpenElement