Panel Criticizes Failed Assassination

A government committee investigating a botched assassination attempt on a Hamas leader in the Jordanian capital criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to consider the political ramifications of the operation, the Haaretz newspaper said. Parts of the panel’s 60-page report, which is to be submitted to Netanyahu today, were leaked to Israeli newspapers. Government spokesman Moshe Fogel refused to comment on the reports before the committee’s findings are submitted. Two Israeli agents were caught in the bungled Sept. 25 attempt to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Amman. The incident caused a major crisis in Israeli-Jordanian relations.