Final solution to the Vanunu and Maxwell problems?

The Israeli daily Maariv sponsored a poll as to what should be done with the recently-released Mordechai Vanunu, who was abducted and jailed as a "spy" in 1986 after he had provided evidence of Israel's nuclear program to the British press. (In recent times, the word "spy" has received almost as much injury as "terrorist.") One of the options was "Kill Vanunu." After howls of outrage, the newspaper apologized. It was inappropriate to use the word "kill" -- "execute" would have sounded nicer.

At the time of his alleged offense, Mossad did consider assassination, but a decision was made to make an example of Vanunu. "Jews do not kill other Jews," Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit declared. A bestial mob of Israeli right-wingers disagreed, and shrieked for the blood of the alleged "traitor" upon his release. Other Israelis, I am happy to report, consider Vanunu something of a hero.

Everyone knows that Mossad has assassination squads known as Kidon teams, a term derived from the Hebrew for "bayonet." But does Mossad really follow a Jews-don't-kill-Jews policy?

Gordon Thomas and Martin Dillon argue otherwise in their recent book The Assassination of Robert Maxwell. The book is flawed: As is always the case with Thomas, citations are nonexistent, minor errors creep in, and sources making sensational claims are viewed with insufficient caution. A few paragraphs seem cribbed from the work of Victor Ostrovsky. Even so, the authors did conduct important interviews, and the result is well worth reading.

The book makes a compelling case that Robert Maxwell did much secret work on behalf of Israel. When the publishing magnate encountered severe financial reverses, he attempted to blackmail the country he had done so much to aid: Bail me out, or I'll speak of things I know. Shortly thereafter, he died at sea. Suicide, according to the British government; "Kidonology," according to Thomas and Dillon.

The assassination of Robert Maxwell provides one instance of Mossad targeting a Jew; one can find other examples in the espionage literature. Interestingly, one of Maxwell's holdings was...Maariv.

As a wise Jew once noted, he who lives by the sword...