Lid lifted on PLO man's killing
Israel's military censor clears for publication an interview with a commando who killed the deputy of former Palestinian chief Yasser Arafat in 1988.
1 November 2012
Last updated at 15:52 GMT
Abu Jihad, left, help to found the PLO with Yasser Arafat, right
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.
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.
"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]."
'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."
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.
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.
"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.
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.
Abu Jihad killing: Israeli censor releases commando's account
Abu Jihad, left, help to found the PLO with Yasser Arafat, right
Israel's
military censor has cleared for publication an interview with a
commando who killed the deputy of former 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.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.
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.
"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]."
'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."
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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