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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Abu Jihad killing: Israeli censor releases commando's account | Abu Jihad killing: Israeli censor releases commando's account |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israel's military censor has cleared for publication an interview with a commando who killed the deputy of the then Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat. | |
| It has been widely believed that Abu Jihad was killed by Israeli agents in Tunis in 1988 but Israel has never officially acknowledged it. | It has been widely believed that Abu Jihad was killed by Israeli agents in Tunis in 1988 but Israel has never officially acknowledged it. |
| However, the censor has allowed Yediot Ahronot newspaper to publish the interview with Nahum Lev. | However, the censor has allowed Yediot Ahronot newspaper to publish the interview with Nahum Lev. |
| Mr Lev died in 2000 and his account has not been made public until now. | Mr Lev died in 2000 and his account has not been made public until now. |
| Abu Jihad - whose real name was Khalil al-Wazir - founded the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) with Yasser Arafat and was blamed for a string of deadly attacks on Israelis. | Abu Jihad - whose real name was Khalil al-Wazir - founded the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) with Yasser Arafat and was blamed for a string of deadly attacks on Israelis. |
| He was shot dead on 16 April 1988 in a raid on the PLO headquarters in the Tunisian capital. | He was shot dead on 16 April 1988 in a raid on the PLO headquarters in the Tunisian capital. |
| "Israel killed the number two man in the PLO, Abu Jihad, in Tunis in 1988, it can now be reported," Yediot Ahronot said. | "Israel killed the number two man in the PLO, Abu Jihad, in Tunis in 1988, it can now be reported," Yediot Ahronot said. |
| "The intelligence part of the assassination was overseen by the Mossad [Israeli intelligence], and the operational side was carried out by Sayeret Matkal [elite commando unit]." | "The intelligence part of the assassination was overseen by the Mossad [Israeli intelligence], and the operational side was carried out by Sayeret Matkal [elite commando unit]." |
| 'Horrific attacks' | 'Horrific attacks' |
| In his account of the operation, Nahum Lev said: "I had read every page of the file on him. Abu Jihad was connected to horrific acts against civilians. He was marked for death. I shot him with no hesitation." | In his account of the operation, Nahum Lev said: "I had read every page of the file on him. Abu Jihad was connected to horrific acts against civilians. He was marked for death. I shot him with no hesitation." |
| He said that he and another commando - disguised as a woman - had approached the house as if they were a couple enjoying an evening stroll. | He said that he and another commando - disguised as a woman - had approached the house as if they were a couple enjoying an evening stroll. |
| Mr Lev said he first shot a bodyguard in the head with a gun equipped with a silencer. | Mr Lev said he first shot a bodyguard in the head with a gun equipped with a silencer. |
| Yediot Ahronot said masked commandos then rushed inside the villa and one of the agents ran upstairs with Mr Lev behind him. | Yediot Ahronot said masked commandos then rushed inside the villa and one of the agents ran upstairs with Mr Lev behind him. |
| "He shot Abu Jihad first," Mr Lev said in his account. | "He shot Abu Jihad first," Mr Lev said in his account. |
| "It looked like he was holding a gun. Then I shot him, a long burst, careful not to hurt his wife who showed up. He died. Other combatants confirmed the kill." | "It looked like he was holding a gun. Then I shot him, a long burst, careful not to hurt his wife who showed up. He died. Other combatants confirmed the kill." |
| The newspaper said a second bodyguard and a gardener who was sleeping in the basement were also killed. | The newspaper said a second bodyguard and a gardener who was sleeping in the basement were also killed. |
| Mr Lev said: "It was too bad about the gardener. But in operations like this, you have to ensure that all potential resistance is neutralised." | Mr Lev said: "It was too bad about the gardener. But in operations like this, you have to ensure that all potential resistance is neutralised." |
| Israel's military has so far not commented on the article. | Israel's military has so far not commented on the article. |
| Yasser Arafat died in France in 2004 after a stroke resulting from a blood disorder. |