Stop Assassinations With International Laws

The hypocrisy of the Israeli government’s outrage in the wake of the killing of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi could not be more breathtaking (“Israel Issues Ultimatum After Minister’s Slaying,” Oct. 18). Israel has for years pursued a deliberate policy of targeting Palestinian officials and leaders for extrajudicial assassination, often by rocketing from U.S.-supplied helicopter gunships or via long-range sniper fire from Israeli military units. Dozens of high-ranking Palestinians have been murdered in this fashion, with only muted objection by the U.S., which continues to supply Israel with billions of dollars of aid annually.

The killing of Zeevi should serve as a wake-up call to all: Assassinations solve nothing. The Israeli government needs to break the cycle of violence, not escalate it as they are threatening to do. The U.S. should cut off military aid to Israel and urge the U.N. to post peacekeeping forces in the lands occupied by Israel until all parties agree to abide by moral and international law.

Randall Smith

San Diego

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I really don’t consider a disregard for human life an honorable trait. Apparently, that’s more than I can say for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Here’s a direct quote from Sharon, speaking at Zeevi’s funeral on Thursday: “Today we are parting from a determined and hard person whose love for the country was greater than his love of people.” There we have it. A perfect explanation of Israeli policy and the people who run it.

Wasim Muklashy

Los Angeles