Socialist International declares unlawful and unacceptable the assassination of Rantissi

The assassination today in Gaza of Abdel Aziz Rantissi is yet another unlawful and unacceptable act carried out by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon which the Socialist International condemns.

Our organisation has previously denounced the policy of assassination by the Israeli government as contravening international law and against all efforts by the international community to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

These assassinations must stop. They breed further violence, weaken the forces for peace among Israelis and Palestinians and strengthen the hands of extremists, undermining all possibilities for resolving the conflict in the region.