Israel admits killing deputy of late PLO chief Arafat

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Mike Nelson / AFP - Getty Images, fileYasser Arafat (right) consults with Khalil al-Wazir (left) during the Palestine National Congress conference in April 1987 in Algiers.By NBC News staff and wire reportsLifting 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 Tunisia.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld Israel has long been suspected of slaying Khalil al-Wazir, who was better known by his nom de guerre Abu Jihad, in Tunis, the country's capital.

But only Thursday did the country's military censor clear the Yediot Ahronot daily to publish the information, including an interview with the commando who killed him.

Dozens of brazen operations have been attributed to Israel over the decades, but Israel rarely takes responsibility.

The acknowledgement gives a rare glimpse into the country's covert operations.

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

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