Rabin's son sees Sharon assassination danger

[lindsayg]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05531880.htm

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - Israel leader Ariel Sharon could be in danger of assassination as the country carries out its withdrawal from the occupied Gaza Strip, the son of murdered former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said on Thursday.

Yuval Rabin, whose father was assassinated in November 1995 by an extreme right-wing Jew incensed by his peace deals with the Palestinians, told a news briefing he saw similarities between the atmosphere in Israel then and now.

"There could be attacks on individuals who have a pivotal role in the process or other desperate acts that could ignite the Middle East," Rabin told a forum organized by the New Israel Fund, a group which raises money in the United States to support human rights and social justice in Israel.

"We've seen enough expressions of hate and sentiments against Prime Minister Sharon that in my opinion cross the border. Words do kill," Rabin said.