was the mastermind of an abortive plan to assassinate Prime Minister
Golda Meir during her visit in New York in 1969. A car rigged with
explosives found close to the El Al terminal at Kennedy Airport was
defused in due time. Kubaisi was allegedly Habash’s deputy also.
On the night of 6 April 1973, a Mossadteam was awaiting Kubaisi
as he returned to his hotel from a meeting. As the team members sur-
veyed the scene, a car driven by a Parisian lady of the night chanced
to draw up beside the hotel; she invited Kubaisi for a “drive.” He ac-
cepted the offer and got in. The team’s dilemma was whether to can-
cel the killing or to assume that the woman would drive him back to
the hotel. The second alternative was chosen, and Kubaisi indeed re-
turned. About to enter his hotel, he saw the men of the Mossad team
standing with their pistols; he shouted out, but he was shot dead in
the street.– L –
LAKAM.See BUREAU OF SCIENTIFIC LIAISON.LANDAU COMMISSION.Officially the Landau Commission of In-
quiry into the Methods of Investigation of the ISA Regarding Hostile
Terrorist Activities, this was an Israeli government committee ini-
tially appointed in 1987 to investigate allegations of torture by the Is-
raeli Security Agency(ISA). The commission, headed by former
Supreme Court president justice Moshe Landau, published on 30 Oc-
tober 1987 a set of classified guidelines intended to regulate interro-
gation methods. To compile its recommendations, the Landau Com-
mission examined international human rights law standards, existing
Israeli legislation prohibiting torture and maltreatment, and guide-
lines of other democracies confronted with the threat of terrorism.
The commission recommended that in dealing with dangerous ter-
rorists who represent a grave threat to the State of Israel and its citi-
zens, the use of a moderate degree of pressure, including physical
pressure, in order to obtain crucial information, was unavoidable un-
der certain circumstances. Such circumstances included situations in
which information sought from a detainee believed to be personally
involved in serious terrorist activities could prevent imminent mur-154 • LAKAM06-102 (03) H-P.qxd 3/24/06 7:24 AM Page 154