Posted on 06/03/2002 2:27:01 PM PDT by Seti 1
ISRAEL'S STATE TERRORISM
By Lev Grinberg*
What is the difference between State terrorism and individual terrorist acts? If we understand this difference we'll understand also the evilness of the US policies in the Middle East and the forthcoming disasters. When Yassir Arafat was put under siege in his offices and kept hostage by the Israeli occupation forces, he was constantly pressed into condemning terror and combatting terrorism. Israel's state terrorism is defined by US officials as "self-defense", while individual suicide bombers are called terrorists.
The only 'small' difference is that Israeli aggression is the direct responsibility of Ariel Sharon, Benjamin Ben Eliezer, Shimon Peres and Shaul Mofaz, while the individual terrorist acts are done by individuals in despair, usually against Arafat's will. One hour after Arafat declared his support of a cease fire and wished the Jews a Happy Passover feast, a suicide bomber exploded himself in an hotel in Netanya, killing 22 innocent Jews celebrating Passover. Arafat was blamed as responsible for this act, and the present IDF offensive has been justified through this accusation.
At the same time, Sharon's responsibility for Israeli war crimes is being completely ignored. Who should be arrested for the targeted killing of almost 100 Palestinians? Who will be sent to jail for the killing of more than 120 Palestinian paramedics? Who will be sentenced for the killing of more than 1,200 Palestinians and for the collective punishment of more than 3,000,000 civilians during the last 18 months? And who will face the International Tribunal for the illegal settlement of occupied Palestinian Lands, and the disobedience of UN decisions for more than 35 years?
Suicide bombs killing innocent citizens must be unequivocally condemned; they are immoral acts, and their perpetrators should be sent to jail. But they cannot be compared to State terrorism carried out by the Israeli Government. The former are individual acts of despair of a people that sees no future, vastly ignored by an unfair and distorted international public opinion. The latter are cold and "rational" decisions of a State and a military apparatus of occupation, well equipped, financed and backed by the only superpower in the world.
Yet in the public debate, State terrorism and individual suicide bombs are not even considered as comparable cases of terrorism. The State terror and war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Government are legitimized as "self-defense", while Arafat, even under siege, is demanded to arrest "terrorists."
I want to ask: Who will arrest Sharon, the person directly responsible for the orders to kill Palestinians? When is he going to be defined a terrorist too? How long will the world ignore the Palestinian cry that all they want is freedom and independence? When will it stop neglecting the fact that the goal of the Israeli Government is not security, but the continued occupation and subjugation of the Palestinian people?
As Israelis in the opposition, we are fighting against our government, but the international support that Sharon receives is constantly jeopardizing our struggle. The whole international public opinion must be reverted, and the UN must deploy intervention forces in order to stop the bloodshed and the imminent deterioration. Israelis and Palestinians desperately need the awakening of the international community's public opinion and a reversal in the global attitude. These are needed both in order to save our lives (literally), and preserve our hope in a better future.
* Dr. Lev Grinberg is a political sociologist, and Director of the Humphrey Institute for Social Research at Ben Gurion University
What evidence are you talking about? Sharon refused to allow the U.N., the press, or even various aid groups into the area. True, the total death count probably wasn't enough to qualify it as a massacre, but destroying the entire civilian infrastructure including water, electric, and other utility lines certainly goes beyond what one would consider a defensive action-it was more an act of collective vengeance against the entire civilian population, not just against the terrorists.
I imagine this self-hating Jew lecturing at Berlin University circa 1938: "We Jews have wronged the German Citizens; we work and pay taxes but we didn't fight hard enough during WWI-- Hitler and his Nazis have been victimized by our culture of work and perseverence... Now get in that cattle Car!"
Actually there are people on both sides who would like to live in peace, but wanting to live in peace and wanting to make peace are not the same thing. Sharon's Likud Party has already expressed the position that they have no intention of giving up any of the occipied territories for peace, and in fact most in that party have said they favor taking over the entire West Bank and expelling the Palestinions. Just as there are Palestinions who are unwilling to compromise, so are there Israeli's who refuse to compromise. Neither side really holds the moral high ground in this anymore, especially since Sharon has come into power.
I beg to differ !
It's simple:
I agree that Arafat was using the bombers as a negotiating tactic, he no doubt saw it as the only leverage he had to gain concessions. I no more cared for Arafat's tactics than I do for Sharon's overly brutal response. The extremists on both sides seem to be winning, and that doesn't bode well for any chance of peace over there anytime soon.
Then I suppose the Mossad would have to rescue him — that is, assuming the "court" could ever get its arrest warrant enforced. In that case, I would not want to be among his judges or jailers. But I'd definitely be rooting for the Mossad!
Second, less than 6 square city blocks were razed in rooting out the terrorist and thier bomb making factories... satalite photos, from a U.S. satilite are available on the IDF web-site (sorry for not having the link handy). The Area razed comprised less than 10% of the camp. If anything, the Israelis were guilty of being too humane in dealing with the terrorists in Jenin and unecessarily risking their soldiers lives.
Israel rightfully denied the U.N. fact finding team in when they learned it was Predispossed to reach a "massacre" outcome without properly analysing the evidence... The head of the U.N. team had previously equated the symbol of the Star of David on the Israeli flag with the Nazi Swastika. Israel's request was simple, put military experts on the team who had experience with counter-terrorism measure, and the U.N. balked.
You seem like a reasonable guy, unfortunately this is such an emotionally charged issue for so many people that they tend to respond more from their hearts than their heads. I'm not optimistic that this conflict is going to be resolved anytime soon, as a matter of fact, I expect it to get worse and expand regionally. Not good for the innocents who are condemn to suffer because of the extremists.
It was more of a demand than a request, but I agree that Israel had every reason to feel the U.N. was preparing to do a one-sided propaganda number on them. I still believe they would have been better off letting some people in and taking their lumps because they already lost the propaganda war when it appeared that they were trying to hide something. Either way, this business of 'collective punishment' that the Israeli's seem so fond of is really starting to backfire on them. World opinion is turning away from them, and I don't believe its just because of anti-semitism like they claim. Sharon has caused the Israeli's to appear as the aggressers and oppressors and whatever claim they may have once held to the moral high ground has evaporated.
What do you expect when we keep tying his hands.
Bingo. it's kinda like an article on the "allies' state sponsored terrorism" in WWII.
Please explain to me why, if the Israelis only want peace, they continue to support Israeli settlers on Palestinian territory? Even though this violates a treaty they signed with Arafat in 1967.
Also how does killing civilians, destroying houses, schools, hospitals, Police stations and electricity/water supply infrastructre, help stop future terrorism?
By the way I am not an antisemite. I have Jewish friends (not Israelis) and they are actually very critical of the methods use by Israel to defend itself.
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