MUSCAT, 29 March 2004 — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon himself designed the plot to assassinate Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder of the Hamas movement and spiritual leader. Not just that, he then personally supervised the execution of the horrendous act at every stage and congratulated the security forces on a job well done.

Sharon, quite mistakenly, thought he had dealt a fatal blow to the intifada launched by the Palestinians. But the entire Palestinian population came out on the street in an expression of rage, defiance and unity of purpose. The message is clear: The struggle against Israeli occupation shall continue till victory.

It was not the first time Sharon the terrorist had committed a heinous crime. He has a record of massacres, starting from Dier Yassin to Lebanon, Jenin and now the assassination of Sheikh Yassin. He holds a world record in crimes against humanity and his bloody record deserve mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

By assassinating Sheikh Yassin’s, Sharon intended to sow the seeds of fear and strike terror in the hearts of the Palestinians. He wanted to weaken their resolve, create discord among their rank and extinguish the flame of intifada.

Alas, Sharon’s calculations were wrong. The opposite has actually happened: The assassination has only boosted the fierce determination in the hearts of the sons of the intifada, united them further and strengthened their resolve. They have vowed that Sharon shall pay a high price, sooner than later.

Yassin had always tried to instill courage in the hearts of the Palestinians to make any sacrifice for the liberation of their homeland. He founded the Hamas movement with men who do not fear death and who are ready to die for the sake of their homeland and Allah Almighty. So Sheikh Yassin’s death has only made the sons of the intifada more determined and courageous in their fight against the occupiers. Which is why they streamed into the streets, expressing unity and willingness to shed the last drop of their blood for the freedom of their country.

The world has been shaken by Sharon’s horrible crime with strong condemnations pouring in from around the world. Even people within Israel — those who love to live in a world of peace — have denounced the assassination. The European Union and the UN denounced the operation as an unacceptable crime and unlawful behavior. Rallies were staged in most world capitals to condemn the heart-wrenching crime.

But American administration chose to bless the crime. Soon after the assassination of Sheikh Yassin, US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice announced that Washington had no prior knowledge of Israel’s intention to assassinate Sheikh Yassin, that Hamas is a terrorist organization and that Sheikh Yassin was himself involved in terrorism. A statement that blessed the Israeli action and provided justification for it.

The US stand, strange as it is though, was not unexpected because the US has always supported Israel, just blindly. The US provides Israel with moral and material assistance, using legal and illegal methods, turns a blind eye to all of its crimes, and stands firm in the face of any world move against Israel. So much so, there is little exaggeration in saying that “Israel is an American state”!

We have some questions: Why did the US administration not condemn the assassination of Sheikh Yassin as he did not commit any crime other than fighting to liberate his nation? Who is occupying whom? Who is defending his land and honor? Why had the American people not been called terrorists when they took up arms against British colonialists 300 years ago?

Yet, we should admit that despite White House’s blind support for Israel and its crimes the American people are peace loving and friends of the Arabs. If anything, with Sheikh Yassin’s assassination Israel has plunged itself and its people into a deep crisis. All options are open to the Palestinian people and Israel now faces unprecedented consequences.

— Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali is the editor in chief of The Times of Oman.