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A Neglected Factor in Palestinian Terrorism
Townhall.com ^ | October 16, 2015 | Michael Brown

Posted on 10/16/2015 7:56:38 AM PDT by Kaslin

There are numerous factors that contribute to Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel, including the history of the region, the Islamic religion, and the difficulties faced by Palestinians because of what they view as “the occupation.” But there is another important aspect of the conflict that cannot be ignored, namely, demographics.

The inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza Strip are disproportionately young, and a youth-heavy population is one that is typically marked by violence, rebellion, and social upheaval. In this case, most of the anger is directed towards Israel, making for a situation that could explode at any moment.

Using data from the IndexMundi.com website, we see that the median age of Americans is 37.6 years, Canada is 41.7 years, the UK is 40.4 years, Russia is 38.9 years, China is 36.7 years, and Japan is 46.1 years, using these countries as a point of comparison and reference.

In contrast, in the West Bank, the median age of the population is 22.4 while in the Gaza Strip it is 18.2 years. This is a massive, societal shift.

In Japan, 22.9% of the population is 24 or younger while 39% is 55 or older. In America, 33.1% of the population is 24 or younger while 27.1% is 55 or older.

In the West Bank, 55.4% of the population is 24 or younger while only 8.2% is 55 or older. In the Gaza Strip, 63.8% of the population is 24 or younger while only 7.1% is 55 or older.

Figures like this almost guarantee unrest, and when you add in the constant bashing of Israel that takes place in the mosques, in the schools, and in the media, it is no wonder that so many Palestinian young people are ready to fight against the “evil occupier.”

This is not to excuse Israel’s shortcomings nor is it to suggest that Israel is guiltless in this raging conflict. But it is to say that: 1) the extraordinarily high percentage of Palestinian young people make for a much more volatile situation; and 2) when you factor in the anti-Israel bombardment they are subject to from their earliest days, it is no wonder that terrorists as young as 13 attempted to kill unarmed Israeli citizens in recent days.

Let’s also remember that, like other young people around the world, Palestinian youth are greatly impacted by social media, and the images they see day and night are not just infuriating. They also call for violent action.

Again, this is not to downplay the harsh realities they live with on a daily basis, and while you and I can debate whether those hardships should be blamed primarily on the Palestinian leadership (this is my position) or on the Israeli leadership, in the minds of the vast majority of Palestinians, Israel is the great oppressor.

Add to this children’s school activities and TV propaganda glorifying martyrdom (meaning, dying while killing Jews), military training camps for children during summer breaks, and then the pervasive influence of social media, and you have a recipe for disaster.

How would you feel if your uncle was locked up in an Israeli jail; the leader of your mosque wielded a knife while preaching, calling for an uprising against the Jews; your primary image of Israelis is that of armed soldiers enforcing order in your streets and stopping you at checkpoints; and you hear Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas recounting the “execution” in cold blood of a 13-year-old Palestinian by Israeli soldiers?

Then, you get on Facebook and see a video of this terrified boy lying in a pool of his own blood with this caption: “Israeli Zionists curse a dying Palestinian child as Israeli Police watch.

“Two Palestinian children aging 12 and 13 were shot in cold blood north of Jerusalem today. Medical assistance was not offered, which led to the older child's death. His name was Ahmad Manasra and his last moments were documented in this video.

“A Jewish settler verbally abuses the children while the Israeli police is watching.”

Do you think that, as a Palestinian young person, you would find out that the wounded teen is now recovering in an Israeli hospital and that he was shot only after stabbing one man (together with his 17-year-old relative) and then stabbing a 13-year-old Israeli boy riding his bicycle after leaving a candy shop? (The boy was stabbed more than a dozen times by Manasra and is now in critical condition; police have released video footage of the stabbing after Palestinian denials that the attack had taken place.)

Then, after your blood is already boiling and you are determined to do whatever it takes to destroy these evil Israelis, you find a horrific Facebook video showing you exactly how to stab and kill a Jew.

Now, let’s step back for a moment and read those stats again: In the West Bank, 55.4% of the population is 24 or younger while only 8.2% is 55 or older. In the Gaza Strip, 63.8% of the population is 24 or younger while only 7.1% is 55 or older.

These young people are victims of a tragic cycle of hate, and it will take massive reeducation along with massive efforts at reconciliation to bring this cycle to an end.

That is why, as much as they are responsible for their actions, my heart goes out to them as well, recognizing the hot bed of hostility in which they have been raised.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Israel
KEYWORDS: palestine; youth

1 posted on 10/16/2015 7:56:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Demographics?

And here I was thinking it was because Palestinians are defective, in-bred animals.


2 posted on 10/16/2015 8:08:33 AM PDT by Arm_Bears (Biology is biology. Everything else is imagination.)
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To: Kaslin

Per Debka

The Palestinian campaign is shown to be orchestrated in escalating stages:

First, weeks of throwing rocks and firebombs in Jerusalem.

Second, escalating to attacks in Judea and Samaria.

Then, stage three, the use of firearms for clashes with security forces in Jerusalem and,

Stage four, inciting violent disturbances in Israeli Arab communities.

Stage five arrived Sunday: the onset of suicide bombing attacks for multiple Israel casualties, raising the specter of the second intifada (2000-2006). This form of terror demands planning, professionally contrived explosives and suicide bombers who are manipulated and act on orders. The woman must have left her home in Jerusalem a day or two earlier to meet her handlers who gave her the explosives with instructions on their use.

Let’s see:

1. Israel perturbed by the arrival of 3,000 Iranian troops in Syria with 2,000 Cubans. Israel and Iran engaged in a duel of messages on Wednesday and Thursday (October 14-15), with Russia standing behind Iran. Israeli military and intelligence sources were uncharacteristically forthcoming when they revealed on Thursday, Oct. 15, that 3,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards troops had secretly landed in Syria. This was the largest Iranian ground force ever to set foot in Syria.

2. A Chinese aircraft carrier docks at Tartus to support Russian-Iranian military buildup. Chinese will be sending out to Syria a squadron of J-15 Flying Shark fighters, some for takeoff positions on the carrier’s decks, the rest to be stationed at the Russian airbase near Latakia. The Chinese will also deploy Z-18F anti-submarine helicopters and Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters. In addition, Beijing will consign at least 1,000 marines to fight alongside their counterparts from Russia and Iran against terrorist groups, including ISIS.

3. Russian marines join Hizballah in first Syrian battle – a danger signal for US, Israel. Russian marines went into battle for the first time since their deployment to Syria, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources reveal. Russian Marine Brigade 810 fought with Syrian army and Hizballah special forces in an attack on ISIS forces at the Kweiris airbase, east of Aleppo.

This operation runs contrary to the assurances of President Vladimir Putin to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sept. 21 – just three days ago - that Russian forces in Syria were only there to defend Russian interests and would not engaged in combat with the Syrian army, Hizballah or Iranian troops.

4. Putin warns Israel off targeting Iranian targets in Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about Israel’s repeated attacks in Syria, he said, after talking for an hour and-a-half with President Barack Obama early Tuesday, Sept. 29, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Putin agreed that Israel’s security concerns must be taken into account in Syria, but he was worried by the IDF’s periodic strikes on positions in the embattled territory.

Sunday night, the IDF hit Syrian military targets with powerful Tamuz artillery rockets after two errant Syrian rockets landed on the Golan.


3 posted on 10/16/2015 8:22:17 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings)
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To: Kaslin

When you raise children to hate, and teach them how to harm others, and that harming others brings you unimaginable rewards, what do you expect?

This is the fault of the PLO leadership, and the mosques. Both should be destroyed, then in a generation or 2 there might be peace of a sort. With them, there is no chance at all.


4 posted on 10/16/2015 8:25:31 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: Kaslin

Maybe Jordan and Syria will give them their land back.


5 posted on 10/16/2015 8:43:13 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Arm_Bears
"And here I was thinking it was because Palestinians are defective, in-bred animals."

Many public officials think that, but they don't have the guts to say it. Who thinks that if every Jew in Israel pulled up stakes and left, the Pallies could step in and run a modern, democratic country? Only gullible leftists.

Those people are losers. I mean the Pallies and the leftists. If the Jews left Israel, in about five years or less the new Islamic country of Wackystan would be like every other Islamic hellhole.

6 posted on 10/16/2015 8:50:17 AM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
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To: Kaslin

The factor is that they are uncivilized, reptile brain savages.


7 posted on 10/16/2015 9:20:24 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country)
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To: driftless2

“Who thinks that if every Jew in Israel pulled up stakes and left, the Pallies could step in and run a modern, democratic country? Only gullible leftists.”

The minute that happened, both the Saudis and Iranians would launch attacks, eliminate the Palis and claim the land for themselves. The Palis don’t get it that Israel and Jordan are their best bets.


8 posted on 10/16/2015 10:15:38 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Jews For Cruz)
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To: I want the USA back

Another “neglected factor” is barbecued pork. Very tasty.

Hard to think about walking out wearing a suicide vest, when ribs are on the ‘cue..


9 posted on 10/16/2015 6:14:30 PM PDT by research99
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To: Kaslin

So basically the Pali Muzzies are young and stupid so they attack Israel?


10 posted on 10/16/2015 6:16:58 PM PDT by FourPeas ("Maladjusted and wigging out is no way to go through life, son." -hg)
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