Time
In the past two weeks alone, Israel has killed some 70 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and more are bound to follow.
The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin marks a new and unprecedented escalation. Needless to say, it will push any hopes of a resumption of negotiations well out of the picture and, in the meantime, the military wings of Hamas and all the other Palestinian factions will redouble their efforts at retaliation. A cycle of violence will ensue that may reach hitherto untouched levels.
This is in no one's interest except, perhaps, the Israeli prime minister's. In fact, it may be argued that Sharon is in a win-win position. By assassinating Yassin, he has shown the loony right in Israel that he is a "tough" leader ahead of any possible withdrawal from Gaza. By provoking the inevitable retaliation, he can retrospectively justify to a toothless West the need for even harsher military action, and postpone indefinitely, if he should choose, such a withdrawal. He has put himself in his favourite position: Of not having to make any tough choices to improve the situation.
editorial/Jordan Times Mar.23.04
