On July 4th, 2001, the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision to continue carrying out its policy of political assassinations and extra-judicial killings has led to a dangerous escalation in the already grim regional conflict. Sadly, Sharon’s right wing government has signaled more clearly than ever that it intends to defy both international law as well as US-initiated efforts to bring about an end to the violence (both the Mitchell Report, and the Tenet “ceasefire” strongly denounce all extra-judicial assassinations).

Forget Israel’s daily siege on all Palestinians (which has resulted in more than 53% of the population living under the poverty line of $2/day), forget the illegal expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, and forget the steadily rising death toll of Palestinian civilians (550+) at the hands of Israeli security forces, or the disturbing reports of Palestinians being tortured in Israeli prisons (many of whom have never see the inside of a courtroom). Though all of these issues must be addressed before any serious negotiations can be held to pave the way for a just and lasting peace, Israel’s Security Cabinet’s July 4th decision, in light of the current “ceasefire”, is fundamentally detrimental to all peace efforts, whether of Palestinian or Israeli initiative.

Israel’s official policy of assassinating Palestinian activists and political figures, based on its own intelligence sources, is most concisely and accurately summed up in two words: STATE TERRORISM. The goals which are sought to be achieved by a “state” and “terrorism” lie in opposite corners; the former seeking to edify and uphold, with the latter seeking to destroy at all costs. Indeed the implementation of a policy of “state terrorism” in its purest form would have catastrophic results, which are nothing short of anarchic.

The legal, political, and moral ramifications of Sharon’s Security Cabinet’s decision to continue these state-sponsored assassinations are tremendous. Only time will tell the extent of the damage inflicted by Sharon’s militaristic policies and measures on the pursuit of peace.