His stated intention in his manifesto is to kill some jews, and in so doing inspire other European men to also kill jews in the defense of the white race. He says he’s not a terrorist because (paraphrasing) only arabs are terrorists. I feel like this probably makes him a terrorist but I honestly can’t tell what the word means anymore. Maybe he’s right?
I recall seeing a video of a presser with JFK explaining what he was doing to counter the Klan in the South, and he repeatedly referred to them as ‘terrorists’. The British during the Mandate referred to the Irgun as ‘terrorists,’ a characterization which Begin objected to for the reasons stated in Revolt!. The IRA were terrorists without doubt. It’s merely Earnest’s racism speaking when he says that only Arabs can be terrorists. He was without doubt a terrorist by every definition of the word, as was that New Zealand idiot, and as was Baruch Goldstein.
Imho, a terrorist: 1. Targets civilians; 2. Does so in order to terrorize political leaders into doing his will, or to create chaos, or instigate civil wars, or some other political aim; and 3. Breaches the implicit trust of the people around him, by disguising his intentions, such as a female suicide bomber disguising the bomb as a pregnant woman’s stomach, or a suicide bomber disguising himself as a Chassidic Rabbi; or a Purim pageant player dressed as an Arab sheikh and waving what’s believed to be a fake sword around as he dances, getting close to 13-year-old girl and suddenly decapitating her. All these have happened in Israel.
Erny had all elements except maybe the last, depending on how he got the gun into the synagogue. I’m sure he didn’t just walk in casually with it, but even if he came in running, he could be said to have breached the congregation’s trust that they were about to enjoy a festive meal and some prayers.