The Work Of Assassins

From both sides of the intifadeh, high-tech hit squads and low-tech vigilantes wield street justice

Na'ama Abu Sway excitedly prepared the family's iftar meal to break the fast of Ramadan last month. Her son Yussef, on the run for two years for shooting attacks on Israelis, would be there. He had sent word through his wife that he would sneak back for one of his occasional visits to the family home in Artas, a village south of Bethlehem, to share the meal with his parents. As the house was being readied for Yussef's arrival, Na'ama heard a hail of shots. Then her husband Ahmad screamed, "There's a young guy on the ground out there!" Na'ama rushed...

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