BECAUSE ASSASSINATION REFERS TO POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS, AN EXAMINATION OF POLITICAL ASSASSINATION REVEALS THE STRUCTURES AND STABILITY OF A SOCIETY. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CHARACTERIZE AN ASSASSINATION'S SIGNIFICANCE AS A FUNCTION OF VARIABLES THAT ARE PECULIAR TO AN INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL SYSTEM. IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE ASSASSINATION IS COMMON, EVERY POLITICAL SYSTEM SHOWS A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO ABSORB THE ASSASSINATION OF ITS LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. INDEED, SOME ASSASSINATIONS MAY SERVE AS SAFETY VALVES, REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENCE RATHER THAN PRECIPITATING IT. ASSASSINATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT TO A SOCIETY WHEN EITHER THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED WITH AUTHORITY IN THE HANDS OF AN ELITE OR WHEN THE PERSONAL INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IS INTENSE AND DEEP ROOTED. ASSASSINATION MAY OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR UNOFFICIAL EXECUTIONS OR FOR A SCAPEGOAT, OR BECAUSE EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM REQUIRES REMOVAL OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. THE MIDDLE EAST ABOUNDS IN KILLINGS FOR PERSONAL REVENGE, BUT SUCH ACTS RARELY HAVE SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL IMPACT. THE ASSASSINATION BY THE ISRAELI TERRORISTS IN 1944 AND IN 1948 OF PROMINENT BRITISH AND UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS INDICATES THE MOTIVE OF SYMBOLIC BENEFIT. SUCH KILLINGS DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITY OF THE TERRORISTS, RATHER THAN SERVING THE INTRINSIC CAUSE OF ELIMINATING A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF ASSASSINATIONS IN EGYPT, IRAQ, AND PALESTINE ARE PRESENTED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)