While they fear the worse people appreciate killing of Yassin
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Three days after the assassination of Ahmed Yassin, Israeli public opinion, for the most part, seems convinced that such retaliatory action was just.
From non-stop television and radio stories, political commentary and newspaper articles it is evident that the Jewish community in Israel thinks Yassin deserved to be assassinated. The Hamas religious leader is believed responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israeli citizens and the bringing harm to thousands more in terrorist attacks masterminded and executed by the hands of his organization's leaders or in collaboration with other allied militant groups.
Only a few politicians from the opposition and journalists believe his assassination was a mistake. The reason they give is that such an action will only lead to an increase in anger and vengeance by embittered Palestinians.
Meanwhile there is real expectation of new terrorist strikes in Israel. Security measures have been noticeably increased in the form of ubiquitous armed guarded, widespread police units (especially in Jerusalem), more checkpoints and roadblocks at crossings between East Jerusalem and that of the town's Jewish quarter.
The whole country is talking about Ahmed Yassin's assassination, about its potential repercussions, the reaped benefits as well as looming dangers.
Among those who are moderately critical of the government, the most influential is Labor Party head Shimon Peres. Yet anti-government politicians form only very small minority among the country's top leaders.
However we find feelings of ire and disgust on the part of Arab members of the Israeli Parliament. For them Yassin's killing was unjustified and mistaken. The overwhelming majority of the Israeli population, however, thinks the action taken against the Hamas leader was right, as citizens cast blame on him and his organiztion for terrorist threats.
Concerning fears that Hamas can now launch an all-out battle against Israel analysts say that this is not a likely scenario. Hamas, they hold, does not have the military capacity to wage such an open battle against the dominant Israeli army. At the most it can expect to have a greater number of people adhering to the organization and its anti-Israeli terrorist measures.
But those who have support the government's decision stress that Hamas have always waged battles to the death. "If Hamas has committed no violence as of now, this is because it lacks the means, not the will, to carry out such actions," said one politician who asked to remain anonymous.
Israel does not even seem to fea the condemning chants made in unison by other Arab nations. According to the Israeli government "such condemnation is merely ritual" and will not lead to any change in policy.
Experts who study terrorism are wondering instead if Hamas will change its own policies. Until now Hamas has rigorously limited its actions to Israel and the occupied territories. Now, however, it could well turn its terrorist activities to countries abroad. Currently there is hot debate occurring both inside and outside Hamas circles: whether to spread their terror operations to America or not. T
here are those who warn that it is possible, while others play down its chances. In fact to do so would be a radical change to the nature of the organization. To date, for reasons related to its image, Hamas has always conducted its activities in Israel and the occupied territories. Such a strategy has allowed them not to become enemies with other countries around the world and to maintain an extremely clear distinction between Hamas activities and those of international Islamic terrorist organizations.
One last point regarding European condemnation of Yassin's assassination: Israelis have always been convinced that Europe is neither sincere nor consistent. They wonder how even Great Britain, which allied itself with the US in controversial Iraqi war, was able to define the Israel action as illegal.
Politicians, military officials, former soldiers, anti-terrorism experts, writers, and orientalists all say Europe still hasn't learned its lesson from the Madrid massacre, that is to say, that terrorism must be fought everywhere, always and by every means possible.
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