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It is ironic that the Star's editorial criticizing Israel for removing the arch-terrorist Ahmed Yassin appeared the same day that former Defense Secretary Cohen and current Defense Secretary Rumsfeld faced tough questioning by the September 11 Commission about whether pre-emptive efforts against Osama Bin Laden might have prevented that day's horrific tragedy.  Surely, the Star would not conclude that killing Bin Laden and other terrorists who proclaim their intention to strike citizens of the United States is "poorly timed and ill-conceived."   Is the attempt by the US to find Osama bin Laden on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border “poorly timed” and “ill conceived?” Didn’t we target Saddam & bomb his presumed hiding place (50 times!)? Why should Israel be held to a different standard?

Sheikh Ahmad Yassin led an organization that has been killing Israeli civilians, and claiming "credit" for it, for years.  HAMAS not only opposes the "peace process," they time their attacks (like last week's in Ashdod, which resulted in the cancellation of high level meetings between Israelis and Palestinians) purposefully to disrupt it.  They declared war on Israel, and make it clear that they won't stop until Israel is destroyed.  Can Israel, or any other country, simply sit back and wait to be attacked by its sworn enemies?  In this age of murderous non-governmental groups like al Qaeda and Hamas, the answer should be obvious.

Offer Korin, JCRC President

Henry Efroymson, JCRC Chair, Government Affairs Committee