I believe that Israel had very good reason to kill Yassin. Imagine Osama bin Laden in open view of the American army. Would they stand there and not do anything? Of course not. I can't understand why people are angry about targeted killings. It is the best way to get rid of terrorists without harming civilians. This man was a terrorist leader. He organized many attacks on INNOCENT PEOPLE riding on buses. The victims could have been me or you going to work!
Yussef Muhammed
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sheik Yassin's killing is just one more log on an already raging fire. These acts of violence back and forth remind us that the philosophy of "an eye for an eye" can only make its believers more blind, and the notion that the "blind are leading the blind" has become too real. Although I applaud every effort to bring a peaceful resolution to this conflict, it appears that the only agenda that both sides can agree on is the complete annihilation of the other. Sadly, it also appears that the only authority figure who both sides would fully trust to step in and resolve this conflict is the same Being in whose name each side claims to be justifiably harming the other.
Carlos Shumway
Lincoln, Neb.

The death of Sheik Ahmed Yassin has taken back all that was done for the cause of peace process. The states of Israel and Palestine are once again standing at the position where they were five or six years back. They have lost all and achieved nothing in this game of might and revenge.
Ayesha Riaz
Peshawar, Pakistan

I think the Middle East is a safer place without this ruthless terrorist. But the real question is how his elimination will affect the world — here Israel has often been a litmus test for terrorist activities around the world. If it works in Israel, then it is used elsewhere. If we successfully uproot terrorism in Israel, it will be a crushing blow to international terrorism too. And the opposite is true. The world should have every interest in Israel eliminating terrorists and terrorism.
Chaim Silverstein
Beit El, Israel

I think this was a very big mistake on the part of Israel. They should go after the causes of terror and put more emphasis on giving the Palestinians some hope for the future. I do agree that it isn't an easy task. There is the contentious issue of land, but there is the other side of the coin. There's widespread poverty in the West Bank, and people are awfully desperate and angry. [With] a whole lot of exposives, [it's a] lethal combination.
Walter
Kenya

There will be more suicide bombing incidents and more Israeli reprisals until both sides realize that each one has to surrender part of their irrational claims to all of this land. But as long as the Arabs hate the Jews more than they love their own children, this will never happen.
J. Grossman
Israel

Yes, Sheik Ahmed Yassin was a bad man. Having admitted that, I wonder if Israel's government understands the dynamics of this conflict. They have pushed and pushed, hoping that Palestinian extremists will fold, but managing exactly the opposite. They have created more resentment, more hate, and ultimately more Israeli deaths. So much nonsense, so much tragedy.
Armando Santiago
Mexico City, Mexico

Sheik Yassin's assassination means West Asia is back to square one. Israel was even contemplating the assassination of Yassir Arafat last year, but fortunately that did not happen thanks to international pressure. If Israel believes that by carrying out selective killings it can counter Hamas, then it is in for a rude shock. Moreover, with the way the U.S. and Israel have shown disdain for the UN and its resolutions, a day [could] come when there will be no one to stand beside them.
Kanhaiya Sharma
New Delhi, India

Killing terrorist leaders is exactly what is needed. They don't want to die. You never see terrorist leaders volunteer to be suicide bombers. Let them know they're dead if they don't stop the killing and things will change.
John Simpson
Orlando, Fla.

Killing terrorists is like playing "Whack-a-Mole". In order to win the game you have to keep knocking them off. Do I have a moral dilemma with this? Is killing inhumane killers inhumane? The sheik got his fondest wish: a "martyr's" death. There were no losers here!
John Hutsebaut
Paducah, Ky.

The killing of Sheik Yassin will, contrary to Israel's belief, escalate the senseless slaughter and suicide bombings in Israel. The issue to me is that Israel is not looking at the whole Palestinian question in a way that makes sense. Consider that this assassination of one person will lead to the death of hundreds of Israelis at the hands of suicide bombers. Where is the logic? This death will also be a double loss to Americans because it has already inflamed the passions of the Muslim fanatics, who include al-Qaeda.
Maina
Nairobi, Kenya

By killing Sheik Yassin, the Israelis have—at the minimum—engulfed the entire Middle East in flames of vengeance. More terrorists—thirsty for Israeli and American blood—will rise in droves. I fear the mother of all terrorism is now staging up for death and destruction in Israel and in our own backyards. For those who believe in a God, now is a good time to pray.
Jose Gonzalez
Stockton, Calif.

I think it is a sad day for the Middle East. It makes peace far more difficult to achieve. The assassination has also highlighted American hypocrisy. The U.S. government celebrating secretly but tried to pretend that they are "deeply troubled". They fail to know or refuse to acknowledge that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is the root of terrorism. Sorting that out fairly will significantly reduce world terrorism and the U.S. should not be trusted to do that since they endorse/applaud everything Israel does.
Mo
Nottingham, U.K.

Given the unquenchable thirst for blood of the Hamas, it would naturally invite more attacks on Israel. As for world opinion, as long as the rest of the world sticks to their hypocrisy and double standards, it will continue to isolate Israel. Whether the world admits it or not, this world is one evil person less with the death of Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
Liz Barona
Quezon City, Philippines

Violence begets violence. Most people won't mourn the death of that man. But if Hamas holds true to form there will be retaliatory terrorist acts, and Israel will mourn more losses. Someone has to make the first step and say no more.
Mike Johnston
McLean, Va.

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