«They had the opportunity to hand themselves to justice and answer for their crimes. They refused to do this. It goes without saying that we would have much preferred this, but the news that Saddam’s sons are no longer a threat to the security of Iraq will be a reassurance to the Iraqi people.»– Jack Straw, July 22, 2003, on the killing, by US troops, of Uday and Qusay Hussein

«One has to treat such claims and proposals by al-Qaida with the contempt they deserve. This is a murderous organization which seeks impossible objectives by the most violent of means.»– Jack Straw, April 16, 2004, on the proposal, by Osama bin Laden, to arrange a truce with Europe

«Unjustified and counterproductive.»
– Jack Straw, April 18, 2004, on the killing, by Israeli forces, of Abdel Aziz Rantisi

Will the British foreign minister explain why the killing of Uday and Qusay Hussein was justified and «productive,» but the killing of Abdel Aziz Rantisi was not? All three are, or were, leaders of what the British government defines as terrorist organizations.

Will the minister also explain why it is unthinkable for European countries, including Britain, to negotiate with al-Qaida, while it is not only thinkable, but necessary, for Israel to negotiate with a Palestinian regime implicated in Hamas’s terrorism? All bin Laden asks of Europe is what Europe asks of Israel, which is to get out of Arab lands. If that demand is reasonably made of Israel, why is it any less reasonably made of Europe?

Les mer i Jerusalem Post.