Hussam's dream, Israel's nightmare + Inerview with Shalom about the Yassin termination

The dramatic photograph of a deluded Palestinian lad raising his hands and displaying to Israeli soldiers the bomb that his terrorist handlers had strapped to his belly is as vivid a document of senseless hatred as can be imagined.

Some Palestinian families glory in rearing their young to be the slaughterers of tomorrow. Others do not. "Leave us alone!" screamed Hussam Abdu's mother as shudders of revulsion swept through neighborhoods where the fanatics sow their sickness: What kind of monster commandeers children to do his work?

Well, Hamas murder boss Sheik Ahmed Yassin, for one. He had been known, until his dispatch by Israeli gunship crews, to deploy a kid or two. As for the intentions of the late sheik's successors, shouting that Israel will pay, the possibility exists that they won't live long enough to carry out too many of their plans. As Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told this page, Israel will do what it must to defend its people. (see below for his remarks.)

And that is the case whether the UN Security Council approves or not. Indeed, the usual bunch at the UN yesterday voted yea for a resolution condemning the Gaza City strike that killed Yassin - without so much as frowning at the dastardly use of poor Hussam Abdu.

Alone in solidarity with the Jewish state, the U.S. shot down the measure and doubtless will have opportunities to veto more condemnations while Israel faces an enemy committed to its destruction.

Meanwhile, reports come from Gaza and the West Bank of a backlash against predators who pack youngsters with explosives and send them to die. The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, noting this rage, have withdrawn the claim that they were the ones who recruited young Hussam and fed his dream of rivers of wine, honey and willing virgins. Sounds like they're a little nervous.

As well they should be - until the day their terrorist violence stops. Until that time, Israel's course is determined and clear when it comes to bomb builders. The rivers await them.

The News Interview

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom talked with the Editorial Board about the assassination of Hamas' Sheik Ahmed Yassin and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza.

Question: Was the assassination of Yassin necessary and how does it change relations with the Palestinians?

Answer: Yassin was our Osama Bin Laden. He was behind hundreds of attacks that cost us hundreds and hundreds of casualties. He is the godfather of suicide bombers and was the one who extended that terrorism by recruiting women and children. His death sends a strong message to the other Hamas leaders that if they plan more attacks, they will pay with their life.

Won't it provoke revenge attacks?

They don't need a reason to try to kill Jews. Their ideology is to destroy the State of Israel.

Will it take another attack before you hit Hamas' new leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi?

We tried to attack him, too, seven months ago, and failed. He can't rely on immunity from Israel. Not anymore. They are trying to attack us all the time. There are about 50 pinpoint alerts every day. We are lucky enough to prevent them before they succeed.

Yasser Arafat has expressed concern he might be next. Are his fears groundless?

I don't think the right thing to do is to kill him. To expel him would be better.

Prime Minister Sharon has proposed a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. How does the Yassin assassination affect that?

I don't think there is any connection. We are still committed to [President Bush's] road map, but Sharon believes that as long as there is no partner we should come up with this new plan. As you say here in the States, we need two to tango. As long as we don't have the second dancer, we should do it by ourselves.

Sharon's plans also include a security fence in the West Bank. Has the U.S. expressed concern about that?

They are always talking to us about the fence. It is, unfortunately, not acceptable to the international community. But it's weird that after we've suffered from more than 90,000 terrorist attacks, everyone blames us for building it. We didn't start the fence until 2002. Since then, there has been a huge decline in attacks.

How has the Iraq war changed things?

The war in Iraq has brought a huge change in the Arab countries. They are moving toward a better understanding and better relations with Israel and the U.S. In Iraq, I was very surprised to find out that they accomplished their constitution. [Grand Ayatollah Ali] al-Sistani [the leading Iraqi Shiite cleric] is more moderate than I predicted. If they have an election, it will give a very strong signal to other Arab people to ask for the same freedom. I don't accept the axiom that Muslim countries can't have a democracy. That's nonsense.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/177178p-154186c.html

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