Palestinian challenges Israel's 'assassination policy'

The Israeli High Court is hearing an appeal today against what's being called a policy of assassination by the army against Palestinian officials and leaders.

The case has been brought on behalf of the widow of a senior official, Thabet Thabet, who was shot dead as he left home in the West Bank.

He was not armed and there was no fighting in the area at the time.

His widow is asking the court to instruct the defence ministry to halt the policy. She argues that Israeli soldiers could easily have arrested her husband rather than killing him. The BBC Middle East correspondent says at least twelve Palestinian officials and leaders have been killed in cold blood since early November.

In the first such incident, Israeli helicopter gunships rocketed a car, killing a local militia commander near Bethlehem. Israeli officials have admitted carrying out some of the killings, which have been condemned by Israeli peace activists.

They hope the court action will force the government to openly admit that the policy exists.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service