Rabin's assassin, Yigal Amir, is smiling because he knows he won

Gillon's remarks to Yedioth Aharonoth come on the heels of a survey published by the newspaper over the weekend, in which 20 percent of the Israeli public said Amir deserved a pardon. Another significant portion of the population, 45 percent, believes Amir should be allowed to marry and become a father.

The former Shin Bet chief is not surprised by these results, however, saying that if the survey had been conducted only among right-wing voters, "90 percent would have thought he should get a pardon," Gillon said.

"If [the bodyguards] had killed him on the spot, he wouldn't have become a symbol for the radical right wing," Gillon continued. "[Amir] added fuel to the fire, [and] encouragement for the next political murder."

For example, in an interview over the weekend, Amir's mother, Geula, said anyone involved in carrying out the Gaza disengagement "should be hanged."

Because of these conditions, Gillon said, it is "worrysome" that today, the right wing's political struggle is focused on one man, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and not on MKs in general or on legislation.

"My worries strengthen when [the struggle] is accompanied by halakhic decisions and the pronouncements of rabbis," he continued. "It was like that with Yigal Amir ... and it could be with Sharon as well."

Amir's family, meanwhile, has opened a new campaign for his release, mounting a Web site on his behalf, and appearing in television interviews, comparing the assassination to "killing a criminal."

Meretz-Yahad MK Ran Cohen has asked the Justice Ministry to press incitement charges against the Amirs. The ministry has not yet responded.

A memorial for Rabin will be held November 12. The gathering was postponed by a week to allow former U.S. President Bill Clinton to attend.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/639258.html