March 23, 2004: German news media noted a distinct difference in the official reaction by the European Union and the United States to yesterday's assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin by the Israeli military. Many in the EU view the U.S. as being pro-Israeli, while Europe is seen as being neutral to both sides.

In direct language unusual for diplomats, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels condemned the attack by Israel. In their official statement, the foreign ministers rejected Israel's policy of liquidating radical leaders by emphasizing that "Israel has no right to kill outside the rule of law."

The conference of EU foreign ministers was followed by the regular summit of EU heads of state and government. In the communique published at the end of the their meeting, the EU leaders also commented on the assassination of Ahmed Yassin: "The European Council expressed its deep concern at the situation in the Middle East and the deepening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, following in particular the extra-judicial killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. While having repeatedly condemned terrorist atrocities against Israelis and recognised Israel's right to protect its citizens against terrorist attacks, the European Union has consistently opposed extra-judicial killings which are contrary to international law."

In their statement, the EU leaders also declared for the first time their unwillingness to accept any change in the borders of Israel unless they are agreed upon by both Israelis and Palestinians: "The European Union will not recognize any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between the parties."

German news media quoted U.S. Presidential press secretary Scott McClellan as voicing the administration's "deep concern" about the overall situation following the killing of Ahmed Yassin. However, as several commentators pointed out, McClellan did not condemn the Israeli action, as the EU and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had done earlier. The U.S. even had to deny charges by Hamas that Israel had provided advance notice of the assassination.

Later, a United Nation Security Council resolution introduced by Algeria and Libya condemning the assassination was vetoed by the United States. American U.N. ambassador John D. Negroponte questioned whether the Security Council would contribute anything to a peaceful solution in the Middle East by condemning one side and ignoring everything else.