Israel says killed Arafat deputy in 88

Lifting a nearly 25-year veil of secrecy,Israel has admitted that it killed the deputy of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a 1988 raid in Tunis.

Israel has long been suspected of assassinating Khalil al-Wazir,who was better known by his nom de guerre Abu Jihad. But only Thursday did the countrys military censor clear the Yediot Ahronot daily to publish the information,including an interview with the commando who killed him.

The acknowledgement gives a rare glimpse into the countrys covert operations.

Abu Jihad founded the Palestinian Liberation Organization with Arafat and was blamed for a series of attacks against Israelis.