>Previous killings by Israel of leaders of Hamas have preceded spikes
>in the violence here. Israel maintains that such targeted killings,
>which Palestinians call assassinations, are essential to its
>self-defense.
American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed.:
>as-sas-si-nate 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack,
>as for political reasons[.....]
Those Palestinians will say anything!
Doug