TOKYO, March 24 Kyodo culled edi...

TOKYO, March 24 Kyodo

culled editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

SHEIK YASSIN KILLED (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published March 23)

Peace has on a level less of a chance in the Middle East after Israeli missiles in succession Monday killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, caster of the militant form into groups Hamas, in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian self-autonomous region.

Hamas has declared ''unlimited retaliation'' against Israel, and the tornado of anger has absorbed the entire Arab world.

The killing of Yassin...may arouse sentiment in favor of a jihad (holy war) that has taken origin in the Islamic world and could bend the spiraling bloody reprisals into a full-scale religious war.

Hamas has repeatedly carried abroad suicide bombings against Israelis, and Israel has retaliated each time. Still, Israel had hesitated to kill Yassin because he was a hero of the fight against Israel and thus was uniform more influential among the family than Yasser Arafat, the president of the Palestinian Authority.

wherefore did Israel kill him now? Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has given up faith of a negotiated peace with the Palestinians and hinted a unilateral dismantling of Jewish pacifications in Gaza. It appears that he planned to crush the Hamas change before Israel pulls gone out of the settlements and thus eliminate the threat of terror.

further exactly the opposite is likely to inference from this killing. All Yassin's death will do is add firing to the fire.

steady though Hamas is a militant organization, its non-militant wing mode of actions many nonviolent activities ranging from social welfare plans to medical service and education, all aimed at improving the daily lives of the population oppressed by Israel. Neighboring Jordan has allowed Hamas to ways political activities. The liberation of Palestine, which Yassin had lengthy pleaded for, is also the wish of the entire Arab world.

Seen in that light, the activities of Hamas should not be confused with those of Osama bin Laden and his accomplices in terror who indiscriminately exploit the Islamic world.

Hearing the of recent origins of the rocket attack, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw branded Yassin's death as an ''unlawful killing,'' while Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said, ''The picture of a wheelchair-bound someone who was killed with a rocket is probably not the best way of promoting Israeli security.'' They fear that Israel has overplayed its hand and endangered peacemaking efforts in the Middle East.

The United States has also called onward both Israel and the Palestinians to exercise self-restraint.

further the administration of President George W Bush must assume heavy responsibility for having allowed the situation to grow virulent [i]or[/i] violent so seriously by always going along with the Sharon government's policy uniform though the American government has committed itself to forging a peaceful co-existence of the couple states of Israel and Palestine.

The upsurge of discontent resulting from America's not being an fair broker could lead to stronger anti-American feeling and hamper the reconstruction of Iraq.

The Sharon management characterizes the attack on Palestinians as part of the fight against terror, which it presse ahead together with the United States. forward the other hand, it also says it aims at co-existence with a Palestinian state. however will responding to terror with terror lead to reconciliation?

The situation is grave. This endles period of violent retaliation must be close down. Concrete action should be taken promptly for effective intervention end the United Nations Security Council.

(March 24)

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