JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's much-criticized practice of targeting Palestinian militants for death has the full backing of Jewish religious law, according to a statement Thursday from Israeli Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.
The policy has been condemned by the U.S. State Department and human rights groups. The most recent case was Wednesday, when Israeli forces killed Hamas activist Saleh Darwazeh by firing five anti-tank missiles at his car near Nablus in the West Bank.
Lau has been lecturing around the country in recent days, explaining the religious justification for defensive actions taken by Israel's government, according to the statement.
While justifying whatever action the government adopts in its struggle against the Palestinians, Lau stated that private citizens must not take up arms.
Since May, Israel has been following a policy it calls ``restraint,'' avoiding large-scale military operations and air strikes against Palestinian targets, but carrying out smaller operations, like targeted killing of militants. Palestinians say more than 40 people have been killed in such Israeli operations.
Ran Cohen, an ex-army colonel and a leader of the secular Meretz party, said Lau went too far in his ruling. Cohen said stopping terror attacks and intercepting militants is legitimate, but ``targeted killing is a crime.''
Cohen praised Lau for telling civilians not to attack Palestinians, but added, ``I regret the fact that he did not have enough courage to decide what the limits of government policy are.''
AP-NY-07-26-01 2251EDT
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press.