How Anne Barnard reproduces the most blatant Israeli flat-out lie in her article--just to absolve Israel of the crime

"But he doubted Israel was responsible for the killing. “Israel as a state does not settle accounts, but rather thwarts future threats,” Mr. Ben-Yishai wrote, adding that Mr. Badreddine “was more of a threat to the rebels in Syria and Lebanon than he was to Israel.”"   Can you imagine this line making it through the editor? This is like saying: Hizbollah does not engage in violence and has been a pacifist group throughout its history. Would such a statement even if attributed to a Hizbollah propagandist be permitted in the times?