The Greek government was one of the first Sunday to condemn the assassination in Tunis of the Palestine Liberation Organizations’ second in command, Khalil al-Wazir, also known as Abu Jihad.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou sent a message to PLO chief Yasir Arafat stating that the Greek government and people express their abhorrence of the cold-blooded killing.
Papandreou’s ruling Socialist Party, Pasok, sent a telegram of condolence to Arafat.
Wazir, who headed Al Fatah, the PLO’s military branch, was gunned down early Saturday morning during a commando-style invasion of his villa in suburban Tunis. Palestinians and much of the Arab world claim Israel’s secret service, Mossad, was responsible.
That charge has gained credibility in the West because of Israel’s official silence on the matter. The precisely organized and executed assassination bore the earmarks of a Mossad operation, according to many commentators.
Papandreou, in his message to Arafat, warned that such actions undermine efforts for peace in the Middle East and raise questions about the perpetrators and moral instigators.
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