Israel Commemorates 25 Years of Peace with Egypt (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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Hamas Founder Killed in Israeli Airstrike
Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 22 as he was leaving a Gaza City mosque. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said: "Yassin was responsible for numerous murderous terror attacks, resulting in the deaths of many civilians, both Israeli and foreign."  (CNN)

U.S. Vetoes UN Resolution Condemning Israel for Hamas Killing by Warren Hoge
The U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution last week condemning Israel for killing Hamas leader Sheik Yassin. The U.S. ambassador told the Council that while the U.S. was "deeply troubled" by the killing of Sheikh Yassin and believed Israel's action had escalated tensions in the region, it could not support the resolution "because it is silent about the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas." (New York Times)

Prominent Palestinians Urge Nonviolence by Mohammed Daraghmeh
Sixty prominent Palestinians urged their people Thursday not to retaliate for Israel's killing of the Hamas founder, but instead to transform the 3 1/2-year-old violent uprising into a peaceful protest for statehood. The intellectuals who signed the ad - including peace advocate Sari Nusseibeh, lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi, and Abbas Zaki, a leading member of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement - said revenge attacks over Yassin's assassination would lead to strong Israeli retaliation and further hurt the Palestinian cause. (AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Israeli Soldiers Thwart a Boy's Suicide Bombing Attempt by Greg Myre
When the Palestinian teenager, Hussam Abdo, began approaching the Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint last week, he immediately aroused suspicion. The week before, troops at this same checkpoint captured an 11-year-old boy with a bomb hidden in his bag. With the soldiers' guns pointed, Hussam froze, raising his hands above his head. Hussam was then ordered to remove his sweater, which revealed a gray vest with explosives packed inside. (New York Times)
    See also Terrorists' Use of Children Widely Condemned by Hilary Leila Krieger (Jerusalem Post)
    See also Teen Bomber Photos (New York Times)

Israel Pushes White House to Accept Its Withdrawal Plan by Steven Weisman
Israel wants the Bush administration to agree that if it pulls forces and settlers from Palestinian areas, three settlement clusters in the West Bank and near Jerusalem would be retained by Israel in any final accord on its boundaries. Administration officials said no decision had been made on Israel's request. (New York Times)

The Rise or Fall of Hamas by Joshua Mitnick
Israeli military officials gambled that the assassination of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin this week would encourage moderate Palestinian leaders to emerge, but others suggested that the Israeli action made a martyr of the sheik and elevated the political status of Hamas. (New York Jewish Week)

Martyred - Editorial
Any American who does not understand Israel's reason for hunting Sheikh Yassin down does not understand America's reason for hunting Osama bin Laden down. In acting against Sheikh Yassin, Israel was not only punishing, it was also preempting. No Palestinian state will be established as long as Hamas retains the power and the prestige to thwart progress with terror. "Targeted assassination" turns out to be one of the conditions of a responsible Israeli relinquishment of its dominion over Gaza. (The New Republic)
    See also Two Deaths by Martin Peretz (The New Republic)

Shed No Tears Over the Killing of the Sheikh of Hate Ahmed Yassin by Michael Gove
The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin raises its own moral questions. The organisation he set up in 1988, Hamas, has been responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths. Might this assassination lead to a backlash that could be avoided? Whenever Israel has been perceived as irresolute the terrorists have drawn the conclusion that their violence is working. Perceived Israeli weakness led to an escalation of Palestinian violence. (London Times)
    See also Critics of Sheikh Yassin Killing Reveal Own Moral Blindness by Alan Dershowitz (Forward)

We Are More Vulnerable Now, But Killing Yassin Was Necessary by Yossi Klein Halevi
Israelis understand that the war on terror isn't a "cycle of violence" but an existential struggle that defines our ability to survive in the Middle East. As anxious as I am about the new wave of terrorism likely to be released by the Yassin killing, I'd be more afraid of living in an Israel that wouldn't attack those who try to destroy us. (Washington Post)
    See also Slam Bam and We're Out by Yoel Marcus
What was the cabinet ministers' assessment of what dangers lay in store, for Israel and the world, if they bumped off Yassin? Did it occur to anyone in that room that a finger would automatically be pointed at us if the train in Madrid had blown up a day after the assassination? Did the ministers weigh the possibility that the whole Islamic world would go berserk? (Ha'aretz)

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Alabama: Israeli Embassy Spokesman Criticizes U.S. Media by Marlin Caddell
Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., discussed what he sees as the inaccurate manner in which U.S. media organizations portray Middle Eastern affairs. Regev said the greatest problem with American media coverage is U.S. reporters do not "dig deep enough" when traveling to countries ruled by dictators. "You have freedom of speech in Israel, where you can criticize whomever you want to in the government, but the guy from the Palestinian side is only going to feed you the dictator's line," he said. Regev's lecture last week was sponsored by the national Caravan for Democracy. (Crimson White)

Columbia: Budget Cuts Put Birthright Israel's Future in Jeopardy by Veronica Zaragovia
In the final year of its five-year pilot period, Birthright Israel - a program that sends thousands of Jews between the ages of 18 and 26 on free, 10-day excursions to Israel - is facing severe budget cuts from the Israeli government. The unsteady future of Birthright has sparked an increase in applications to the program, as many students realize that the opportunity to do so free-of-charge may not be around much longer. (Daily Spectator)

Emory: Petition Circulates Against Robinson by Raul Gonzalez
Nearly 500 people have signed an online petition protesting the selection of Mary Robinson as keynote speaker for this year’s Commencement. Robinson, former President of Ireland and former high commissioner for human rights for the United Nations, has been described as anti-Semitic for her involvement in the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. Critics have also alleged that she has advocated suicide bombers as a legitimate method of pursuing Palestinian statehood. (Emory Wheel)

Michigan: Israeli Court Justice Discusses Human Rights at 'U' Conference by Melissa Benton
At last week's 3rd Annual Academic Conference on Israel, Israeli Supreme Court Justice Dalia Dorner delivered a keynote address on democracy in Israel, titled, "Protecting Human Rights in the New Age of Terror." The Israeli Supreme Court has played a key role in upholding human rights in several cases, she said. Although some may argue that national security is more important than human rights, the court made these decisions because "human rights must prevail," Dorner added. (The Michigan Daily)

Michigan State: Renowned Lawyer Addresses 'U' by Meghan Gilbert
Harvard Law School professor and well-renowned attorney Alan Dershowitz surprised audience members last week when he revealed he was both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel during a lecture about his new book The Case for Israel. (State News)

Penn: Hillel Helps Sponsor Group Trips to Israel by Olivia Bonner
College freshman Miriam Nogradi participated in the Birthright program in December. "It was probably the best trip that I could have possibly gone on to Israel for my first time. The people I went with from Penn were amazing, and experiencing the land and all the sites for the first time with them was incredible....It just made me want to go back many more times, and it kinda created sort of a spiritual connection for me with Israel," she added. Jewish students at Penn can apply for the 10-day program. (Daily Pennsylvanian)

Yeshiva: Student Trip to Gaza Postponed Due to Security Concerns by Alan Goldsmith
A student mission to Israel and the Gaza Strip has been postponed due to heightened security concerns following Israel's killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The mission aims to bring 70 Yeshiva undergraduates to the Gaza Strip, Judea, and Samaria to express solidarity with their Jewish residents. The planned trip generated controversy for its outspoken right-wing agenda. (Commentator)

York: Pro and Anti-Israeli Groups Clash by Anna Morgan
Last week, pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students clashed in Vari Hall while uniformed security personnel and police looked on. Anti-Israel activists marched into the hall, some dressed in Israel Defence Force uniforms, and began preparing mock checkpoints. Many students felt the planned checkpoints crossed the line protecting campus free speech and asked the administration to stop the event from going ahead. (Canadian Jewish News)
    See also Israel-Palestinian Student Ban at York by Josh Pringle
York University in Toronto has temporarily banned Israeli and Palestinian student groups from holding activities on campus. (CFRA Radio)

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Florida: Peaceful Approach Unlikely for Palestine by Natalie Osterer
Israelis have attempted throughout history to make peace with their neighbors by trading land for peace, and negotiations with the Palestinians have been no different. Despite the current terrorist assault against Israeli civilians, the majority of Israelis still favor an Israeli retreat from the West Bank and the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state beside Israel. (Alligator)

Illinois: Illini vs. Israel by Deborah Passner
The University of Illinois newspaper, the Daily Illini, is making a dubious name for itself as one of America’s more recklessly anti-Israel student publications. Flouting journalistic norms that mandate accuracy, ethics and responsible sourcing it has repeatedly run false, anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic commentaries. (Frontpagemag)

Wayne State: Terrorism Works by Shira A. Drissman
When Israel killed Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the head of the Hamas terrorist organization, many world leaders, except for the United States, condemned the action. Javier Solana, foreign policy chief of the European Union, stated that, "These type[s] of action do not contribute to dialogue and peace in the region." Really? Yassin was a man who had dedicated his life to the destruction of Jewish people. There were no talks of peace from Yassin - only suicide bombings. (South End)

Boston: World Blames Israel Again by Emmanuel Benhamou
All free nations have a fundamental obligation to protect their citizens. Yet Israel's right to self-defense is systematically challenged, even as it faces an unprecedented security threat. Colin Powell echoed this sentiment in a news conference on Sept. 2001: "I think when you are attacked by a terrorist and you know who the terrorist is and you can fingerprint back to the cause of the terror, you should respond." This is exactly what Israel has done. (Daily Free Press)

Where a Foreign Passport and an American Accent Don't Help by Daphna Berman
North American students who get caught in the world of Israeli drug smuggling think that crime here is somehow safer than back home. "The streets look different, the police look different, and kids don't really think of it all as real," a social worker explains. "Drinking rules are more lenient, which gives the impression that everything is more lenient, and so the environment makes them feel less vulnerable." Teenagers from abroad have been sentenced to prison terms, some of whom were arrested at Ben-Gurion International Airport for drug smuggling. (Ha'aretz)

UMass Lowell: Inbar Named Player of the Year in NCAA Division 2
Senior forward Elad Inbar, a native of Kiryat Haim, Israel, was named the NCAA Division 2 Player of the Year last week. Arguably the best player in UML history, Inbar led the River Hawks to a four-year record of 100-27, which included four NCAA Tournament appearances. "Elad is the most important player in the history of UMass Lowell men's basketball," UML's Director of Athletics. (Lowell Sun)

Bucknell: Molly Creamer Pursuing Her Dream in Israel by Kelli Sheesley
Molly Creamer woke up and realized that four years of classes, friends and basketball was nearing a conclusion. Creamer had learned that her dream of playing professional basketball was becoming a reality. A club called Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Israeli League became the team that would represent the next chapter of Creamer's life. (Bucknell Bison)

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Targeted Killing Is a Necessary Option
by Abraham D. Sofaer, former legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State

• Targeted killing is sometimes necessary, because leaders are obliged to defend their citizens, just as police forces are obliged to defend communities. Leaders such as bin Laden or Yassin attempt to achieve their objectives through uses of force that are condemned by conventions subscribed to by all states. It is unlawful in all societies to kill people at random in order to secure any political objective, however sympathetic.
• It is essential not to allow loaded rhetoric to obscure the propriety of lawfully using deadly force in self-defense. When people call a targeted killing an "assassination," they are attempting to preclude debate on the merits of the action. Assassination is widely defined as murder, and is for that reason prohibited in the United States by executive order.
• But killings in self-defense are no more "assassinations" in international affairs than they are murders when undertaken by our police forces against domestic killers.
• The gravest risk associated with targeted killings is in fact that they can do more harm than good. This is why President Bush has warned Israel that, even though he acknowledges its right to defend itself against terrorist murderers, Israel should weigh carefully the consequences of its actions.
• Killing leaders of opposing governments and groups may be necessary. But such actions can also escalate the costs of a conflict, cause greater and more lasting embitterment and preclude nonmilitary solutions. (San Francisco Chronicle)