JERUSALEM - Israel's dovish opposition leader, Shimon Peres, said in parliament Monday the assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was a mistake.
"Had I been a member of the government I would have voted against this. I think it was a mistake," said the elder statesman who was awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
The helicopter air strike, which killed the head of the leading radical Palestinian militant group, was reported to have been personally supervised by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who congratulated his troops on the operation.
Peres said "I would have voted against for the following reasons: is this strike going to result in an increase or a decrease in terrorism? I think there's a risk it will increase.
"I don't think we can eliminate terrorism by wiping out leaders," Peres said, stressing that he felt obliged to show restraint in his criticism of the government in order not to further undermine Israel's international standing.
Yassin was the highest-profile Palestinian figure killed by Israel since the start of the intifada, prompting a barrage of international condemnation and fuelling fears of a unprecedented surge in regional violence.
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