ABSTRACT
Historically, airstrikes on nuclear facilities have not been the only measure Israel has resorted to in order to impede its enemies' nuclear programs. In the early 1950s, Israeli Mossad agents carried out a series of assassination operations against prominent Arab scientists. The assassinations of key civilians are not typical cases of what is called "targeted killing", which usually refers to a state targeting members of irregular belligerent organizations. Waldron supplies a final argument against assassination, in keeping with his more general defense of civilian immunity. An atomic scientist is legally a civilian who, at worst, can be described as taking an indirect part in hostilities. The direct targeting of civilians is illegal, and for good reason. Whatever the degree of threat they pose, civilians are defense-less persons rightly protected by the laws of war. Assassination is more easily justified in terms of human rights when the status of the victim is assimilated, at least in part, to class of combatants.
