Killing of Rantissi

It is state-sponsored terrorism in its most blatant form. The EU and all Middle Eastern countries have condemned the killing, but the United States, which has already waged two wars to oppose 'state-sponsored terrorism', has endorsed the assassination, thus giving Tel Aviv further encouragement to commit such crime. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has very rightly termed the attack a 'direct result' of US support for Israel. The lone superpower has thrown its weight behind a state which indulges in and boasts of terrorism, without showing the slightest regard for international laws.

President Bush had given Tel Aviv the green signal on retaining the settlements on the West Bank after pulling out from Gaza. The US stand on the settlement issue amounts to lending a legality to all the barbaric acts committed by the Israelis on the West Bank in it bid to perpetuate its occupation of Palestinian land.

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The killings of Hamas leaders have thrown the peace plan into complete disarray and established beyond an iota of doubt the fact that Israel does not believe in peace.

The EU leaders have reacted to the latest killing by saying that it won't help the peace process. While they are absolutely right in their assessment, it is time the UN insist on Israel that it implement the relevant resolutions of the UNSC. Meanwhile, the US must realise that if its prime objective is to contain state-sponsored terrorism, Tel Aviv must be dissuaded from carrying out targeted assassinations.