Israel Matzav

Osama Bin Laden and Ahmad Yassin

On March 22, 2004, shortly after morning prayers, an IAF helicopter came out of nowhere and eviscerated Hamas terror leader Ahmad Yassin. Unlike the death of Osama Bin Laden, to which most of the world has reacted favorably, the World was furious with Israel over Yassin's death. Why? Manfred Gerstenfeld tries to explain.

On Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters that "the death of Osama bin Laden, announced by President (Barack) Obama last night, is a watershed moment in our common global fight against terrorism." Yet after the killing of Sheikh Yassin, then-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said "I do condemn the targeted assassination of Sheikh Yassin and the others who died with him. Such actions are not only contrary to international law, but they do not do anything to help the search for a peaceful solution.”

The now-defunct UN Commission on Human Rights condemned “the tragic death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in contravention of the Hague Convention IV of 1907.” At the Security Council, the US had to use its veto power to prevent condemnation of Israel.

After the bin Laden killing, the leaders of the European Council and European Commission stated that his death made the world a safer place and showed that terrorist attacks do not remain unpunished. Following the Yassin killing, then-EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said, "This type of action does not contribute at all to create the conditions of peace. This is very, very bad news for the peace process. The policy of the European Union has been consistently condemnation of extra-judicial killing."

British Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated President Obama on the success of the bin Laden assassination. Cameron considered it a massive step forward in the fight against extremist terrorism. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair also welcomed bin Laden’s demise.

However, the killing of Sheikh Yassin was called by the then-British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw “unacceptable” and “unjustified.” The official spokesman of then-Prime Minister Blair condemned the “unlawful attack“ and observed: "We have repeatedly made clear our opposition to Israel's use of targeted killings and assassinations.”

So what's the difference? Yassin murdered Jews, Bin Laden murdered Americans. Yassin was killed by Jews, Bin Laden was killed by Americans.

It's time to show the world that Yassin and Bin Laden (and other terrorists) really are the same and what the world is applying is a double standard.

Read the whole thing.

Labels: Ahmad Yassin, Osama Bin Laden

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:57 AM