The Inside Story Podcast Is Israel's decades-long assassination policy becoming normalised?
Mar 19, 2026
Luca Trenta, Swansea University expert on covert action; Ilan Pappe, Israeli historian critical of Zionist policy; Rami Khouri, seasoned Middle East analyst. They discuss Israel's long practice of targeted killings. Conversations cover the historical roots, domestic and strategic motives, erosion of taboos against striking leaders, legal implications, and how such tactics shape regional dynamics.
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Assassination Replacing Strategy In Modern Conflicts
- Israel increasingly relies on assassination and large-scale destruction as tactical substitutes for achieving political goals.
- Rami Khouri links this to failed strategies, saying mass violence and targeting elites aim to force surrender but instead harden resistance in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Prioritise Peace Treaties Over Decapitation Campaigns
- Pursue diplomatic settlement rather than repeated killings, as peace offers the strongest tool to end cycles of resistance and violence.
- Rami Khouri recommends making peace treaties the primary weapon, not assassination or bombardment.
Assassinations Rooted In Pre‑State Doctrine
- Ilan Pappe traces Israel's assassination policy to the 1940s, aimed at targeting societal elites to subjugate populations.
- He argues the tactic repeatedly failed to achieve political ends yet persists, suggesting domestic political utility drives its continuation.