(AKI) - Israel's Shin Bet security service opposes targeted killings of Palestinian politicians - a controversial proposal made by Israeli deputy premier Avigdor Lieberman last Saturday in a radio interview. Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told Israel's security cabinet Wednesday. According to a report by Tel Aviv daily Haaretz the cabinet, which was discussing Israel's response to the ongoing Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, adopted Diskin's recommendation and decided against targeting politicians. However, it approved another controversial proposal: targeting Hamas institutions in the Gaza Strip.At the meeting Diskin argued that the assassination of Palestinian politicians helped to improve the country's security. After some debate, the cabinet agreed that political leaders should have immunity, even if they used to be involved in terror but have since transferred over to their organisation's civilian wing. This means that Israel will not attempt to assassinate figures such as Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, even though his Hamas organization has repeatedly claimed responsibility for Qassam launches. Instead, the cabinet's decision read, targeted killings will be used only against "those involved in practice in committing [acts of] terror."
However, the cabinet decided, Israel will step up its response to the Qassam fire in other ways, including targeting Hamas institutions in the Gaza Strip.
