Israel’s supreme court ruled on Thursday that Ehud Yatom, a former Security Service officer who was involved in the death of two Palestinian captives in 1984, could not be appointed to a senior government post, and revoked Prime Minister Sharon’s appointment. Yatom had been named in June 2001 by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to head Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Council. However, Israeli members of parliament Sarid and Raz objected to the appointment and appealed ot the Supreme Court. The court issued an injunction forbidding Yatom from taking up his new post, and on Thursday ruled that the senior government position would be denied to Yatom permanently.
The Affaire
In April 1984 an Israeli bus was hijacked by four young Palestinian fighters. On the following dawn, Israeli commandos stormed the bus, killing two of the Palestinians and capturing the other two. Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported that Yatom, who was head of operations for Israel’s feared internal security service, Shin Bet, arrived on the scene and was ordered by the head of Shin Bet to execute the two prisoners. The two prisoners were subsequently beaten to death, and the Israeli public told that all four Palestinian hijackers had died in the firefight on the bus. However, a newspaper photographer had taken a picture of the two live captives being lead away from the bus, and this exposed Shin Bet’s lie. This disclosure was explosive, as the Israeli public was deeply appalled by Shin Bet’s brutality, and the ensuing storm nearly destroyed the service.
Not Forgotten
In what was not one of Israel’s finer moments, the Shin Bet personnel involved in the Affaire were subsequently pardoned without being convicted. This has caused resentment among the Israeli public to this day, and lead directly to the appeal against Yatom. Despite nearly two decades that have passed, and although he had never been convicted, MPs Raz and Sarid felt that Yatom’s role in the death of the Palestinians made it unacceptable that he should play a role in the Israeli government. The Israeli Supreme Court upheld their claim, and ruled to dismiss Yatom’s appointment in what was an important step forward for Israeli society. In the words of MP Raz, the decision sets "worthy moral norms" for a democratic state, strengthening democracy.
Sending A Message
The Israeli Supreme Court decision, quoted by the Haaretz daily, stated very directly that the appointment would send a "negative message" to security forces personnel, including rank and file soldiers, about "what is allowed and prohibited in the war against terror." According to the justices, Yatom's appointment would undermine public confidence in the integrity of those in charge of the war on terror. They agreed that even in the midst of a "long and difficult war against murderous terrorists, no compromise can be made on basic values."
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
