RUTHFULLY YOURS

Here are some contrasting opinions by leaders of the UN, EU, Britain, France,
Norway, the Vatican, Japan and elsewhere, following Israel’s killing of Ahmed
Yassin, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization in 2004 and the killing
of Osama bin Laden last week.

Yassin, of course, was proportionately responsible for far more deaths of
Israelis than bin Laden was of Americans, particularly the deaths of Israeli
children. Yassin had ordered the bombing of school buses, children’s birthday
parties and so on, and was continuing to order more attacks at the time of his
death. Soon after Yassin and his deputy Abdel Aziz Rantissi were killed, there
was a sharp decrease in the number of suicide bombings against Israel.

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: “I condemn the targeted assassination of Ahmed
Yassin. Such actions are not only contrary to international law but they do not
help the search for a peaceful solution.”

Killing Bin Laden:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed Osama bin Laden’s death as a key turning
point in the struggle against terrorism.

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, described the assassination as “very,
very bad news”.

Killing Bin Laden:

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said: “I would like to congratulate the
U.S., pay tribute to its determination and efficiency in reducing the threat
posed by terrorists and underline the close cooperation between the EU and U.S.
in the fight against terrorism.”

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: “Israel is not entitled to go in for
this kind of unlawful killing and we condemn it. It is unacceptable, it is
unjustified and it is very unlikely to achieve its objectives.”

Killing Bin Laden:

Prime Minister David Cameron said that bin Laden’s death would “bring great
relief” around the world.

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

French President Jacques Chirac “unreservedly condemned” Israel’s assassination
of Hamas terror leader Yassin. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous
also said: “France condemns the action taken against Sheikh Yassin, just as it
has always condemned the principle of any extra-judicial execution as contrary
to international law.”

Killing Bin Laden:

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said on that bin Laden’s death is a “victory
for all democracies fighting the abominable scourge of terrorism. France, the
United States and European states work closely together to fight terrorism, so
I’m overjoyed at the news.”

***

Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen: “This act will contribute to increased
tensions in the area and will make it more difficult to implement an Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza.”

Killing Bin Laden:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the death of bin Laden “a
break-through in the fight against terror”.

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

“The Holy See unites with the international community in deploring this act of
violence that cannot be justified in any state of law.
Lasting peace cannot come from a show of force.”

Killing Bin Laden:

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said that while Christians “do not
rejoice” over a death, bin Laden’s death serves to remind them of “each person’s
responsibility before God and men” and “bin Laden must answer to God for having
killed an innumerable number of people and exploiting religion”.

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Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Israel’s actions were
“thoughtless and reckless, and cannot be justified.”

Killing Bin Laden:

Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said today that the country welcomed
the death of Osama bin Laden as “significant progress of counter-terrorism
measures. I pay respect to the US officials concerned.”

***

Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

The Brazilian government said it “deplored the murder of Sheik Ahmed Yassin.”

Killing Bin Laden:

Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said the death of Al Qaeda’s leader
Osama bin Laden is “important and positive”.

***

Israel’s killing of Ahmed Yassin:

Malaysia strongly condemned the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin:
saying the action was a manifestation of terrorism.

Killing Bin Laden:

Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he hopes that the death of bin
Laden would help bring universal peace and harmony.