Arab diplomats attending the economic forum here assailed Israel for the killing of Mr. Qawasmeh and for its policy of pinpoint killings of militant leaders.

The Aksa group welcomed the Hadera bombing and promised retaliation against Israel for its killing of militant leaders in the West Bank.

At least since World War II, a distinction has been drawn between assassination of civilian leaders, and targeted killings of leaders of fighting organizations.

A distinction has been drawn between political assassinations and "targeted killing" of leaders of non-state belligerents.

Often, however, the question of responsibility for the killings of Palestinian leaders has been a matter of dispute.

Yahya ordered the killing of leaders and intellectuals; the violence of the war resulted in many civilian deaths, particularly among the minority Hindu population.

With strong intelligence, there may be a justification for targeted killing of clearly identified leaders and key specialists.

Pérez was accused, however, of flagrant violations of human rights related to the torture and extrajudicial killings of insurgents and political leaders.

The unlawful killing of leaders is, of course, an empty exercise if these are simply replaced.