MARTING from an American rebuke over its protracted incursion into Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip this week, Israel has decided to rely on pinpoint measures - including assassination - in retaliating against Palestinian attacks.
The security Cabinet approved a proposal by Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Thursday that retaliation against Palestinian targets in the future be restricted to 'small signature' operations less likely to rouse the ire of the international community.

Israel contends that the Palestinians are resorting to arms and terror deliberately as a means of gaining political objectives they could not achieve at the negotiating table.
Given its overwhelming military might, Israel is hard put to react to car bombs and other Palestinian actions without seeming like Goliath treading on David.

srael is reportedly planning to resume assassinations of mid-level Palestinian field commanders as part of its revised retaliatory policy, although this too has been criticised by foreign governments.
In their current skirmishing, both Palestinian and Israelis are finding as much need for media advisers as military advisers.

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