India’s emulation of Mossad-style tactics risks perpetuating violence without addressing secessionist roots.
Political assassinations can be very popular. Mossad is lauded in Israel and much admired in India for liquidating national security threats. Last week, Israel killed Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7 Hamas attack. That was just the latest in a string of assassinations, including Ismail Haniyeh, political head of Hamas, and Hassan Nasrallah, head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Most Israelis cheer these assassinations as just revenge. But Alon Pinkas, a veteran Israeli diplomat told The Washington Post, “For Israelis he (Sinwar) represents evil incarnate, but there should be no doubt: Getting him will not ‘eradicate,’ ‘annihilate’ or ‘topple’ Hamas. Nor would it represent a victory.”
This article was originally published by The Times of India on Oct 19 2024.
