Only Arabs are terrorists… reads the subject heading on live from occupied palestine's blog. The blogger is referring to the headlines splashed across Israeli and foreign newspapers after Husam Taysir Dwayat, a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, drove a bulldozer down a crowded street in West Jerusalem, killing three and wounding at least 66 others. Dwayat's spree ended when an off-duty Israeli soldier shot and killed him.
The headlines following Dwayat's rampage included “Bulldozer terror rampage in Jerusalem“. They also focused on Dwayat's prior relationship with a Jewish woman with headlines such as “Jerusalem attacker once had Jewish girlfriend“. Some articles even claimed that Dwayat yelled “God is Great!”
live from occupied palestine expounds on the question of why Dwayat is being labeled a terrorist:
So if Dwayat’s murderous act was not politically motivated, if he was not acting as part of a “sub national groups or clandestine agents”, why is he being labeled by the Israeli media, politicians and other state officials “a terrorist”? Why if he acted alone, in what Israeli security forces and police believe to be an unpremeditated act, is Dwayat being marked as a terrorist?
The answer is, of course, simple. Dwayat was a Palestinian Arab, so quid pro quo, he must be a terrorist. This fact and this fact alone is the reason for him being labeled a terrorist.
DesertPeace is also all to aware of the headlines, and remarks upon those drawing attention to Dwayat's relationship with a Jewish woman:
Truly an earth shattering revelation…. Used to be “All the news that fits, we print”…. Now it’s “All the news that sells, we print”.
Well, I for one ain’t buying!
Will of KABOBfest shares another perspective; the symbolism of the bulldozer in Israel and Palestine:
By killing three Israeli civilians, these acts of murder represent an ironic tragedy. While the shedding of no civilian blood is ever justified, how we talk about such acts is important. Rather than framing it as an isolated incident or as one more heedless Palestinian attack, we should really examine why construction equipment has become a tool of death and destruction in Israel-Palestine. For Palestinian, the bulldozer is a symbol of Israeli aggression. One assault with a bulldozer by a Palestinian does not change that. It only reminds us of the urgent need for a just peace.
Rima Abdelkader, in her Arabisto.com blog, helps readers understand the incident by explaining:
Another important fact left out in Wednesday’s coverage is that bulldozers, specifically Caterpillar, are in some cases used to demolish Palestinian homes. One even killed American peace activist Rachel Corrie in March 2003 who risked her life to protest against the demolitions. This bit of information is significant in discussing Wednesday’s turn of events since the attacker used a Caterpillar bulldozer to kill innocent civilians.
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When you a member of a people and culture that indoctrinate their children and people in a culture of death, that celebrates mass murderers and are committed to the genocidal extermination of a people, to complain about “gradations” or “semantics” seems a bit silly.
Maybe if Muslims and Arabs didn’t commit 98%$ of the terror in the world, stopped celebrating mass murderers people would not ascribe “terror” to their homicidal rampages.
“Maybe if Muslims and Arabs didn?t commit 98%$ of the terror in the world … ”
Who largued 2 nuclear bombs in 3 days on a country?
Who killed 2 millions people in vietnam?
Who invaded lately a sovreign country and killed hundreds of thousands, tortured, abused, and raped a countless number of it’s men, women and children, divided and caused a total fiasco for a whole nation?
Who is colonizing in blood other’s land since 60 years and still aiming to continue with the same attitude?
Are they Muslims and Arabs ?
Interesting perspective. Thanks Jillian for sharing!
Israeli media concentrated on presenting stories of those who survivors and the dead. On the one hand I realize that Israeli media is extremely biased, but with comments from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad being ‘content with the attack’ even if they did not take responsibility for it, its difficult to make a judgment. It doesn’t help that a fairly new organization named ‘Galilee freedom brigades’ took responsibility for this event (in addition to the events in Yeshivat Merkaz Harav). With so many groups and organizations its hard to figure out who is acting on their own, or on behalf many others.
In my opinion, a person who takes to the streets and starts killing innocent civilians is a terrorist. period. Doesn’t matter if they are Palestinian or Israeli, or even if they are mentally disabled, they are committing an act of terror!
I’d really like to see the media focus on questions like ‘Who’ and ‘Why’ - who these people are, where they come from, how they were raised and what their incentives are. The answer to these questions is key to make an attempt at healing this bruised land. In this case - what were this terrorist’s incentives? Whats the story with his ex-wife (who was Israeli) and how/if that is linked to this event?
I see-so because 60 years ago the U.S used 2 nuclear bombs against Japan, thus saving likely hundreds of thousands of U.S lives and quite possibly millions of Japanese to win a war against an aggressor-the Jihadists of today who wage war against everyone-Muslims, Christians and Jews and indoctrinate their people in a culture of death and violence (please make me a list other then terror-that Palestinians have contributed to mankind) should be absolved of blame for their daily homicidal rampages?
Hmmm..Questionable logic there Sir.
As to “bulldozers being used to demolish homes”-”homes” are frequently 1) illegal 2) terrorist outposts. As far as poor, stupid, imbecilic Rachel Corrie-she violated the instructions of the lunatic group she was representing and literally tried to tackle a bulldozer.
It is remarkable that so many can excuse the launching of thousands of missles at Jewish civilian populations and more importantly the exploitation of the ordinary Palestinian people by their corrupt, thugocracy known as Hamas.
Do you ever wonder how a people that receive more aid per person than anyone on Earth are so dirt poor? Ever wonder how Arafat died a billonaire?
Maybe it is time to stop apologizing and hold murderers, homicidal fanatics and their genocidal ambitions accountable for their inhumane conduct?
” … other then terror-that Palestinians have contributed to mankind …”
And what Israelis did for mankind !? Except receiving weapons and killing, jailing and torturing people since 60 years. Palestinians are fighting against the Israeli occupation. We never heard about a Palestinian attacking other countries and other people. And those who accept to live in a raped land, have to assume the consequences. I am not doing the apology for anyone, but this is the truth. Give back people their land, and their internal affairs are not you’re business! Ok Yasser Arafat was a thief. However, that would neither justify nor excuse the Israeli’s behaviour.
Really amazing, you justify a nuclear attack against civilians in their home land. And in the other hand, you can’t stand a rocket attack on people occupying other’s land and whos army is bombing civilians everyday. This is prodigious from an Israeli apologist !?
…”I see-so because 60 years ago the U.S used 2 nuclear bombs against Japan, thus saving likely hundreds of thousands of U.S lives”..
Give ma a break !.
That was the most disgusting outrageous point of view…
Killing civilians were never a solution…and don’t ever think that Japanese civilians wasted for peace…it’s a terrorism and still terrorism and will be for ever a terrorism of U.S.A .
Most likely, the driver of the bulldozer was fed-up with the abuse he and his family have suffered at the hands of the occupation. He went crazy, and you would too.
http://palestinereview.com
-And what Israelis did for mankind !?
Hmm… This is not the brightest question… Technologically speaking, the country has done a lot for mankind. Mobile phone technology, microprocessors for the very PCs you are using, medical advancements such as a camera that you can swallow so doctors can check everything is ok in your insides, as well as multiple Nobel prize winners in various disciplines. Furthermore, the agricultural techniques/technology that were developed and pioneered by Israelis to grow produce in arid environments were later given in peace deals with Jordan and Egypt. So, Arabs are benefiting from Israeli innovation too.
-We never heard about a Palestinian attacking other countries and other people.
Let’s talk about Jordan… late 60’s early 70s… You know… that period where the Palestinians tried to overthrow the Jordanian monarchy by shooting at Jordanians, attempting to assassinate the then King Hussein.. Just a tiny detail of course.. Don’t mind that they were also hijacking planes with people from various nationalities then as a way to get PR. Of course, folks like to then turn a blind eye the the heavy slaughter that ensued afterwards with Black September by the Jordanians against the Palestinians.
Continuing around this same time period, there was that plane that was hijacked to Uganda… They took hostage not only Israelis, but Jews of other nationalities…
More recent events have included the muted reporting by the international media of the fighting between Palestinian militants and Lebanese forces in Lebanon.
I dislike rabid hate-filled individuals who feel they are justified in ignoring historical facts. The situation on the ground is neither black or white, but containing many shades of grey with all players not coming out with clean hands or halo’s on their heads.
” Mobile phone technology, microprocessors for the very PCs you are using, medical advancements such as a … ”
Israeli’s are working with the American companies such Motorola, Intel and onther’s. What you are talking about belongs to Americans and Europeeans companies not to Israel.
I doubt that the Jordan King interests you really. This guy is ruling a Palestinian land himself. He always backed Israel, and in 67 he played his double game with them, that’s why the PLO attacked him, and Israel helped him. About Kidnapping and Hijaking, Israeli Mossad did the same thing and still doing, in other countries. How many times Israel bombed for spite other countries, and other’s interests, for instance Lebanon Airport in 1969 and also Tunisia in October 1985. What about the total destruction that Israel caused to Lebanon in 1982, and also lately in 1996 and 2006 ?! Why did they bomb the power central, oil and cereal provisions, the touristic aeras in Beirut, … ?
About historical facts, you should learn more before giving lecons.
Dear Soufiene,
Since the end of the first intifada, most Israelis wanted to give the Palestinians Judie Sumeria and Gaza. Oslo agreement was just about that. But when Israel signed those peace agreements with the Palestinians, and the PLO leaders came to Israel, the terror attacks become worser. in 94′ and 95′ buses full of citizens started to blow in Tel-aviv and Jerusalem streets.
Today most Israelis has lost their confidence in the Palestinians wish for peace. they realized that the Fatach and the HAMAS may talk about peace but their real will is to bring the full destruction of Israel.
You may ask, how these poor people can ruin such a great state of Israel which is supported by the US. Palestinians leaders says that Israel will collapse by internal corruption and by Israelis losing their adhesion to the land. This they hope to bring by the constant terror attacks on the Israelis. They believe that a Jewish Democratic state is a fable entity that will not last for long. I think they are wrong, but they do think that it is destructible and therefore use terror and propaganda to destroy it.
Israel caused much suffer to the Palestinians since 1948, but a peace agreement that the majority of Israelis backed, was sabotaged by the Palestinians leaders real wish to destruct Israel. Since Oslo agreement the harsh measures against Palestinians Increased because she found out that her hand which was reached for peace and a settlement was returned with terror and stubborn will to destroy her and to bring to her ruin.
You cna not judge only Israel without paing attention to the acts and brutalty of the palestinans the selves.
Pash Glubb, a British officer that was the Arab legion commander, how fought against Israel in 1948 said that fairnessly, we have to blame both sides for this conflict. the Arabs for their total wish to destroy Israel and Israel for being able to drive Palestinians out of their land by diplomatic measures. Today, Israel had tried to go for a settlement, but the Palestinians still want to destroy Israel
For their suffer, the Palestinians have to blame their leaders first.
“Today most Israelis has lost their confidence in the Palestinians wish for peace”
Really!! But who killed Isaac Rabin, a Palestinian ?!! The assassination of Rabin is not an isolated act as the Israeli media tried to make us understand. It was planified by the extreme right in order to confuse the peace process. And thereafter, who began assassinating Hamas leaders for spite?! Is’nt Yehoud Barack ?! The resulting suicide bombing, was a retaliation to Barack attacks. I don’t mind about propaganda, what it counts, is the facts.
Dear Soufiene,
The name of the guy that killed Rabin is Iga’al Amir. He was one man that committed a crime. the Israeli right apposed the Oslo agreement, but they did not kill Rabin. The extreme right in Israel is a bunch of people that may not be more the 300 to 1000 men and women (although they made a big noise in the media).
You wrote:
“And thereafter, who began assassinating Hamas leaders for spite?! ”
Please look at the history record, and see that the reason that Israel started to hunt the Hamas leaders, was because Buses full of citizens sudenly started blowup when the hamas leaders ware around. The reason Israelis had choosed Nethanyho (how opposed the Oslo agrements) was because since the oslo agreements people in Israel started to be under heavy terror attacks by the Hamas and the Fatach.
You also said:
“The resulting suicide bombing, was a retaliation to Barack attacks. I don’t mind about propaganda, what it counts, is the facts.”
Yes, I love people how adhere to the facts. It gives som sense of realty. Lets stick to the facts. Suicide bombing started in 1994, one year before the murder of Itzhak Rabin. So by the common law of cause and effect, the suicide bombing could not be the resault of those attacks on Hamas leaders (but it may be the other way around).
Please let me suggest another scenario (wich match what the Fatach and Hamas leaders say to their people: The cause of the suicide bombing, is the will of the Palestinians leaders to destroy Israel by terror and propaganda.
All the best,
Tal
Thanks Jillian, your article is relevant and raises important questions concerning fairness/accuracy in media coverage of events in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The blog “live from occupied Palestine” is interesting though very biased and I would like to nuance it and make a few comments about the provocative “only Arabs are terrorists” statement:
The blog inflates this tragic incident to epic proportions and into an indictment of Israeli media/governement/Israelis (the distinction is not clear–is it a politically correct way of saying Jews?). He labels them ‘racist’–the cardinal sin in the western world–in what I think is a subtle way of vilifying them. One could argue that this is thinly veiled racism. If the blogs’ concern really was media accuracy and honesty, which the blogger argues is a problem with Israeli media in general, then he would have stuck to the facts, namely those surrounding this incident only. The blogger would have indicated how in this specific case, there may have been a lack of accuracy, integrity, professionalism, etc. and explain why. Instead, he uses this event as a springboard to demonstrate this is a widespread phenomenon and that the Israeli media are racist. That is patently false. Unlike it’s muslim neighbors, Israel has a free press that is critical of its own government, military and various policies. There are more conservative outlets and more liberal ones.
The blog rightly points out that considering the evidence, it seems the Israeli media were probably too quick to judge and label Husam Taysir Dwayat a terrorist. It also rightly alludes to the fact that Olmert may have used this tragic event for political gain and propaganda (assuming he is aware Husam was not a terrorist yet still called so and demanded his family home be demolished–his statement indeed does smack of demagoguery). But since some obscure, new terrorist organizations have tried to claim responsibility for the attack (even if the claims are spurious and aimed at gaining visibility), the Israeli government must play it safe and consider those claims seriously. Also, as the Associated Press article linked above by Jillian notes: “The morning after the attack, female relatives began shouting “martyr” outside Dwayat’s home, but his father, Taysir, quickly silenced them. Taysir told Israel’s Maariv daily that his son was a drug addict and not a ‘terrorist’ “. This little tidbit about the female relatives is conspicuously absent from the blog. One can hardly be justified in blaming the Israeli government and media alone for their reaction. If some Palestinians viewed his death as martyrdom, it is easy to conceive that some Israeli Jews and then the media viewed him as a ‘terrorist’–it was the little justification they needed to fit their prejudgment. The media may have lacked professionalism or even integrity, but that hardly makes them, and by extension the Israeli state racist, as the blog states.
Furthermore–and I know this will anger many–it is easy to understand how the Israeli media may have jumped the gun and wrongfully cried “terrorist!”. An Arab Muslim goes berserk in a bulldozer and kills a few Jews. Yes, in this case he’s a murderer, and is probably unjustly being labeled a terrorist. But, not only to Israelis but to almost any non-Muslim in the world, the semantic combination of Arab+Muslim+Murder = Terrorist (if one puts other considerations aside). A simplistic and misleading equation to be sure, but one that all too often corresponds to reality. The ugly fact is that virtually the only people in Israel and the rest of the world today who commit terrorist attacks, as per the definition of the US State Department and cited in the blog (especially of the kamikaze kind), are Palestinian or Muslim respectively (the IRA, Corsican separatists, FARC, etc. and their ilk pale in comparison whether in scale and frequency of violence or potential threat to civilian populations and governments. Their behavior and tactics are dissimilar).
To underscore the alleged “strident anti-Arab racism of the Israeli Zionist state” (a formula eerily reminiscent of Hamas rhetoric), the blogger reminds us of 2 infamous Jewish terrorists: Baruch Goldstein and Eden Natan-Zada. The blogger perceives a double standard in the way the families of
dead terrorists are treated according to ethnicity and the criteria he focuses on is the Israelis’ demolishing of Palestinian homes as punishment, and their refusal to do the same for Jews.
I’m not arguing the morality of demolishing peoples’ homes as punishment, only saying that it is a logical consequence and useful political weapon. A logical consequence in the sense that their family homes are used as bases to make weapons, plan attacks, or harbour terrorists, etc. all in the knowledge of the family. That is the point the Israeli government wishes to communicate; that there are dire and immediate consequences to harboring and supporting terrorist, even if they are family. Maybe in this case, they were wrong to destroy his home since he seems to have simply gone insane (and that needs to be investigated). But to destroy Goldstein’s and Natan-Zada’s family homes (were they living with their parents?) just to be ‘fair’ or ‘treat them equally’ is illogical and fails to see the qualitative difference between their brand of terrorism and jihadist terrorism–whose ultimate goal is to destroy the state of Israel. Goldstein & Co. are not threats to Israeli State.
Israelis are constantly assailed by the terrorist threat. Though one may disagree with their unjust treatment of Palestinians, it is easy to understand their predicament and reactions. The Israeli state is surrounded by hostile nations and/or populations and has dozens of active and highly organized terrorist organizations working from within its territory or close nearby. Its prejudice and reactions are largely motivated by fear and the survival instinct, except for a few extremists and Kahane sympathizers who are ideological fanatics numbering less than 1000 individuals, and likely to be around 300-400. Compare that to the mass hysteria, blind hate and rhetoric found among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians…
We may criticize the way Israel handles the terrorist problem, but I doubt we would fare better under similar circumstances. If a specific ethnic/religious minority within our respective societies was to adopt the same nihilistic ideology and modus operandi as Palestinian terrorists do, I think our reaction would be very much the same: racial profiling and suspicion, checkpoints, cordoning areas or neighborhoods, retaliation, etc. People would begin to entertain ‘racist’ thoughts and would lash out. But, just like in Israel, there would there would be restraint, because there is a respect for human rights. If we were to reverse the situation, I think that such restraint would be too much to expect from any of Israel’s neighbors. Their track record proves their total disregard for their own peoples’ basic human rights, which leaves one to wonder how enemies would be treated. In my opinion, Goldstein and Natan-Zada are terrorists and their acts were most heinous–which Ariel Sharon himself recognized–but I understand why their cases were treated differently than a Palestinian terrorists’. The reason simply is that their actions were not directed against the Israeli state. Considering the fact that Hamas, Hezbollah and their breed strive for the annihilation of Israel and Jewry, I can understand (though not justify) Israeli aversion and so-called ‘racist’ reactions to such irrational and blind hate.
It is ironic that the “strident anti-Arab racism of the Israeli Zionist state” and other accusations pointed at Israel actually typify Arab behavior: ever see Hamas’ Mickey Mouse and what he teaches children? Nowhere else in the world will you see anything so perverse and demented. The fact that it finds resonance with the Arab population is most disturbing. And concerning Arab media in general concerning Israel, well there’s pretty much no debate: they tend to be far worst than any Israeli media. To argue against Israel and for Palestinians on moral grounds is insane.
Anyway, sorry for the stream of consciousness rant, but the blog irked me a bit. Journalistic integrity is of paramount importance and it seems here that Israeli media may have been too eager–or may have simply suspended their their capacity to think critically–to label Husam Taysir Dwayat a “terrorist”. But I certainly understand their reaction considering their context. I must also add that to accuse Israel of racism while ignoring that of Arabs towards Israel is partisan, hypocritical and misleading; it is a dangerous meme that plays into the deceitful doctrine of al-Taqiyya and spreads hatred. How about reason, honesty and good will for a change? If only Palestinians abandoned the ideologies of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Ismail Haniyah and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah for those of Buddha, Jesus or Gandhi, they would gain substantial public support and a favorable disposition from Israelis. Maybe they would get what they want: a country actually worth dying for.
yesterday i read this post for the first time. amm i really thought that maybe we r racist because Dwayat was a Palestinian Arab, so quid pro quo, he must be a terrorist.
but today the same story a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, drove a bulldozer down a crowded street in West Jerusalem, wounding at least 20 people is he still not a terrorist?
@ tal - I am so sorry to hear about this latest story. Is he not a terrorist? I don’t know enough details. Situations like these must be taken on a case by case basis. But every time an Arab commits a crime, we can’t automatically call it terrorism.
Hi Jillian,
I appreciate your care.
According to what I know this guy rammed a bus and several cars, and wounded about 20 people. It was much the same as the incident 3 weeks ago. So I guess his aim was to kill civilians, and this, I think, makes him a terrorist.
I am sorry for the wounded and I am also sorry for his death. But I hope is deeds will not be legitimized be anyone. Palestinians may claim that terror is a legitimate way to fight occupation, but it is not.
It was if we were not a democracy. But we are and after the first Intifada, in which Palestinians used stones to protest, the I Israeli people did try to give them a land. But when terror broke up, the Israeli embraced them self to the fight and made themselves ready for a long war against terrorism.
The way to peace is not through terror, but through readiness to except Israel’s existence and readiness to share the land with Israel, according the Oslo agreements.
May we have better days,
Thanks,
Tal
Jillia - I understand that but still when an Arab commits a crime against Israeli civilian its hard not 2 call it terroirism.
[...] attack by a Palestinian civilian in less than a month (Global Voices covered the first one here), Palestinian bloggers are frustrated by how local and international media has covered both events, [...]
Just wondering why my post has not appeared yet–it’s been over a week. If for some strange reason it has been censored, I would like to know. I don’t believe that my comments were irrelevant to the conversation and they certainly weren’t disrespectful. I’d like your feedback. Thanks.
Jean-Francois,
Although I’m not the one who moderates comments, I just looked for it in the system and did not find it. I’m sure it was simply an accident - feel free to post the same comments again, and we can ensure they show up this time.
Jillian
Jean-Francois and Jillian, I already recovered the comment and it is posted above. It was so long the system accidentally thought it was spam.
Best,
Solana
Thanks, Solana!
Tal,
Then why, when a Jewish person - civilian or military - commits a crime against a Palestinian, is that not referred to as terror?
Dear Jillian,
Can you remind me when a Jew citizen killed a Palestinian, and not while the Palestinian was committing a terror attack?
Those incidents are very rare, to the best of my knowledge, and they are always dealt harshly in the Israeli media. The terrorists attacks that I remember are Baruch Goldestain how killed 40 Palestinans in Hebron. Another one was Ami Popper, who killed 7 Palestinians 25 years ago . There was another one, as I remmeber in the middle of the second Intifada, which I can not remeber his name, and he killed 4 Palestinans, if I remember correctly.
All of the terrorists where dealt with despise as the worst kind of unhuman creatures, by the mainstream media. They were not hero, but all the other way. They where depict as villains.
Even Israeli soldiers who killed armed Palestinians in unethical manner, are dealt very harshly by the media. Now days, it was reviled that a soldier had killed a tied Palestinian fighter. The media sure depict this deed as unmoral, and something a soldier most not do.
I wish our opponents would have criticized their terrorists in the same way we do. I’m sure that if they would have done it, we could have much less violence by now.
All the best,
Tal
Here’s the most recent example, Tal: http://www.imemc.org/article/56157
Fortunately, he’s alive, but how do you explain that?
I hope he will be well and alive…
Strange… I looked at Google news and found out that the INEMC is the only source for this story.
Form my experience, some of the stories are made up. The Palestinian media is very biased and uncritical, and will take every wounded or killed citizen to be a result of Israeli military actions.
You can see in the story that you sent me that they have declared him dead, while you know he is a live.
It is a fighting tool for them, and they do not care much about the truth.
I think this is something that made the west count more on Israeli reports then on Palestinian reports.
You may know this critical movie about Palestinians sources: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=t_B1H-1opys
And even so, I am sure that there are Palestinians kids who were killed by Israeli military actions. Most of them are non-deliberately. But there may be some that was intended. I know that there were several cases when the Israeli court found out about deliberate killing of civilians, and they were sentenced. Also I know of a case in which a tank commander fired at what he thought to be a terrorist, but was later found out to be a Palestinian women. In this case the platoon commander was charged, and his military career was damaged.
All the soldiers that were found to kill civilians deliberately, were harshly criticized by the Israeli media.
Hope this shade some light,
Tal
“Can you remind me when a Jew citizen killed a Palestinian, and not while the Palestinian was committing a terror attack?”
So let me get this straight, putting a million and half citizens for over a year under full siege from, food, electricity, medicine, and all life basics just to force them to reject their elected government [which they elect for the 1st time of their history and they are punished for their choice], is not a terrorist action?!!!
you may forgot 2006 war?, tell me who considered that killing Lebanese Civilians is a perfect way to force the resistance to surrender?!!
To refresh your memory you have
bombed Beirut, targeted civilians buildings, electricity, water, and even red cross posts, you’ve bombed civilians cars, destroyed bridges and buildings they are not even in the war zone!!!.
you are right,
There are no terrorist Jews, their government is.
and since you are the only democratic people in middle east as your government say, and all your governments were elected by you, and you are the most advanced people in ther area, having the most powerfull army in the region…bla bla bla.
you know what, I don’t care. you want to name Muslims and Arabs as a terrorist, do it, the resistance will never stop, and we will support resistance today, tomorrow, and for ever.
once you recognize your terrorism, and decide to stop it, peace will be exist, otherwise, your existence will be questioned for ever.
Dear Alloush,
You have written:
“putting a million and half citizens for over a year under full siege from, food, electricity, medicine, and all life basics just to force them to reject their elected government [which they elect for the 1st time of their history and they are punished for their choice], is not a terrorist action?!!!”
Let me remind us how this has all started. Israel, under Ariel Sharon, left the Gaza strip so that the Palestinians can live their life there, without Israeli occupation. Most Israelis supported this act and believed that once Israel will retreat from Gaza, the Palestinians will use their energy to recover themselves and prosper. But this did not happened. Instead the Hamas interpreted this as an Israeli weakness, and believed that if he will continue the fight, Israel will collapse and Hamas will have the whole land.
Hamas fired rockets at Israeli cities and villages. What do you expect from a state to do in such situation? When Britain’s citizens were bombard by the Germans in world-war II, the British army went after the Germans and bombard the Germans and starved them. In the first world-war, the British army starved the Germans to death. Three quarters of a million Germans died in starvation.
In 1933 the Germans elected the Nazis and therefore, brought upon Europe the worst war ever. 72 million people around the world were killed because the Germans elected an aggressive party. The Palestinians elected a radical party to power, and thus brought upon us a state of war.
Israel had left Gaza, and the Gaza regime started to fire at Israeli civilians, and so, Israel has the right, I think, to do what the British did when their citizens were bombard.
You also said:
“To refresh your memory you have
bombed Beirut, targeted civilians buildings, electricity, water, and even red cross posts, you’ve bombed civilians cars, destroyed bridges and buildings they are not even in the war zone!!!.”
I do agree that this reaction was much to much for what the Hizbula had done.The war started when the Hizbula attacked Israel and kidnapped 2 soldiers and killed eight, unprovoked. This is added to other incidents in which Hizbula used snipers to kill Israeli soldiers.
I do think Israel over reacted. She tried to say to the Lebanese, if you will not take care of Hizbula, I’ll take care of Lebanon. I think it was a stupid war that made much more damage then good. Hizbula only got stronger. Yes I agree, this was a stupid war. But Lebanon and Hizbula had their share. Hizbula also attacked civilians by rockets, and he started it by provoking Israel, for a long time.
Finaly, you said “once you recognize your terrorism, and decide to stop it, peace will be exist, otherwise, your existence will be questioned for ever.”
Well, please explain me how this should work? we got out of Lebanon, and were still attacked? We got out of Gaza, and the Hamas’ missiles followed us. How should we stop this violence dance? it seems that the only way to stop it, is to let the Arabs destroy Israel. I do not think, we will let you do it.
Really, I think that the way out of this violence, is that Arabs will recognize Israel right to live, and Israel will give the Palestinians a land in the 67 borders. What do you say?
Then why, when a Jewish person - civilian or military - commits a crime against a Palestinian, is that not referred to as terror?
I dont knew but for sure he is not a hero or a Freedom fighter.
“Let me remind us how this has all started”
Oh dear, let me tell you when this has started, it was started when Jewish around the world not even related or visited middle east in 1000 year has decided to make their own nation on ِArabic land.
It was started when you bombed and destroyed Arabic villages spreading terror of civilians all they have to defend them selves was rifles from WW1, against your terrorist killing machine, causing a large scale of immigration of Palestinian to all over the world.
Look as an Arab and Muslim I can understand the suffer that Jewish had in Europe, not only from Nazi, we all know that Europeans hated Jewish over the history.
I can understand all of this, and I don’t have a problem to see Jewish coming to Palestine to start over, but start over in one nation that treat Muslims as mush as Jewish.
This map may could make you understand:
http://aqmme2.googlepages.com/a.jpg
When I said recognize your terrorism, is when you admit that you have no rights to build a Jewish state without Palestinian.
The solution is so clear, dissolve the racist organization of Zionism, stop occupation, and let all the Palestinian who was immigrated to back home to Palestine, then If you want to live with us, you are most welcome, you wont, you can always go back to your original home.
for me, I hope for peace, but in my memory as an Arab, when Israel mentioned I can only remember, sadness, and pain, it’s hard for me to forget what you have done to us.
Thank you Solana! The idea of censure actually crossed my mind…I know it’s shameful ;)
@Tal. Agree with you. Very often what a westerner considers a reasonable compromise through negotiation is misconstrued as weakness by extremists and taken advantage of. furthermore, one has to seriously doubt Hamas of Hezbullah’s their honor and intentions when negociating–they desire peace, but the peace they desire has no room for Israel or Jews, unless they assume Dhimmi status like in medieval times. Moderate and progressive Palestinians need to stop listening to the propaganda and rhetoric and oppose it openly. They need to show other Palestinians that there is a peaceful future possible with Israel, and that this future cannot be brokered by Hamas, Hez and their ilk. Palestinians need to delegitimize extremist positions and their parties and marginalize them.
Meanwhile, every concession Israel makes to these organizations serves to bolster popular support and legitimize their claims. When will a moderate and progressive Palestinian party appear? One which I hope embodies the opinions and feeling most of their people have? Unfortunately for now, true peace-loving Palestinians have poor options and Israel rightly treats them with suspicion.
[...] con un bulldozer guidato da un civile palestinese in meno di un mese (Global Voices aveva già parlato del primo), i blogger palestinesi sono frustrati dal modo in cui i media locali ed internazionali hanno [...]
Alloush and Jean-François,
Jean-François,
Thank you for reminding me about the moderate and progressive Palestinians. Maybe if they will be able to raise their voice, we will have hope here in the Mediterranean for peace.
Alloush Ia Habibi,
Jews prayed allah for 2000 years to return to their home-land, from which they were exiled by the Romans (You can check it out by looking at Jewish prayer books of the last 1000 years). In Israel (As it was called in the bible), there where allays Jews. Jerusalem was so crowded with them that they had to build new houses outside the wall. And this was before the Jews from the Zionist movement arrived. In Safed (صفد) there are traces of Jewish community from the 11th century. in the 16th century half of Safed population was Jewish. In 1834 (50 years before Zionism), Arab mob attacked the Jews in Safed, and after the great earthquake of 1837 in which 2000 Jews were killed, their Arab neighbors massacred them again.
Alloush, you said:
“It was started when you bombed and destroyed Arabic villages spreading terror of civilians all they have to defend them selves was rifles from WW1″
It started a little bit earlier. In 1921 the Arabs in Israel/Palestine mascaraed Jews in Jaffa (يَافَا) and Jerusalem, then again in 1929 in Hebron (الخليل). and again in the years 1936-39. And in 1948, after the UN Resolution 181 to build two states in Palestine/Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt (with British ammunition), Jordan (with British officers), Iraq and the local Arab pupation invaded Israel and tried to destroy her.
We were a nation of 600,000 people in the beginning of the war, against combined population of about 40 millions! and we survived.
Glubb Pasha (The British Arab legion commander)wrote that if we want to be fare, we have to blame booth sides. the Jews, where skillful and used diplomacy to get their land and accepted any offer, even if it was not fulfilling their dreams. The Arab leaders took the opposite course. They demanded their full programme and rejected any compromise, and therefore lost to the Jews parts of Palestine. (A soldier with the Arabs, p 46)
The problem was (and is still is) that Palestinians and our Arab neighbors, always think they can solve everything by power. Never looking for settlement, always for violence. and thus, they lose land, and lose a lot of life.
Alloush,
You ask to build a peaceful state, In which Palestinians and Jews can live together. I also wish for such a state. But I think the Arabs and the Palestinians have to prove their ability to be open democratic and tolerance for other cultures. Today, almost all the Arab countries are dictatorships. Syria is Electing Hafez with 99.8% of the votes. The same is true to Jordan and Egypt.Lebanon which is the only real Arab democratic state (maybe because it has a lot of un-Muslim elements in it), is being threaten by Hizbula and Syria.
If you really wants peace, please show me that Palestinians and Arabs, can solve problems without violence. Show me that you can live in a real democracy. Otherwise, every single provocation will lead again and again to Palestinians violence.Show me that you are mature and respective nation, that I can live with you safely.
Yours,
Tal
P.S.
What is the meaning of the name Alloush? I never heard such an Arabic name.
Are you a Palestinian?
“Lebanon which is the only real Arab democratic state (maybe because it has a lot of un-Muslim elements in it)”
Yes we have a real problem with democratic issues but it’s not related to Muslims only, I think I don’t have to remind you about Russia and all Union Soviet nations, China, and North Korea, Africa and Latin America, I don’t think all of them are MUSLIMS !!!
This problem is caused by many society ideas, and life style.
it needs much more time to apply real democratic life. we are not perfect, we have many defects but at least we are doing our best to develop in balance way.
“Jews prayed allah for 2000 years to return to their home-land”
So you tell me that Israel now is a Jewish state???
I can’t get it, I mean you people until now are unable to determine whether Israel is a religious state or secular state.
And about the 2000 years, ya habibi, in 2000 years I’m sorry to tell you there were other people lived, they are Arabs and Palestinians.
it’s a 2000 years, you are not going to tell me that Jewish who were immigrated from 2000 years were able to have pure blood, it’s a Nazi thinking!!!!.
I mean come on, what the relation of African Jewish to MIDDLE EASTERN region???!!! he was immigrated too from 2000 year???!! wow, this is the 1st time I see white people turn to black just cause of sun!!!!.
anyway I would thank you for justifying the solution, now the Arab and Muslim can make their own story of suffer, and after 2000 year who knows, we can kick you out, and tell you: look it’s not us, it’s just a story from 2000 year has to be fixed.
so Indians has the right now to kick all the American from U.S.A, I mean they haven’t had 2000 year yet, but hay they were here before them, right?
Dear Tal, these stories worth nothing, what really matter now is: are we going to settle this in: either me or you, or you and me.
cause I can remind you of another sad story for both, Muslims and Jewish, Andalusia, Where Muslims, Christians, Jewish lived the most impressive time in history, under Arab rule.
700 year, and we were kicked out both, Muslims and Jews, like a rubbish, in 700 year, Muslims and Jewish were born in Spain, lived in Spain, and had kids in Spain have been kicked out, not just that, their culture were denied, and 1000 year of European history has been deleted until now.
Muslims has build Spain and made it the most advanced region in Europe, source of science, culture, and even human in Andalusia were treated much better than in Europe, the situation is similar to Arabs and Europeans now but in reverse, so where is Andalusia now?
Israel is going to face the same future if she kept denying the Palestinian right to live on their land which they lived for 2000 year as you said.
Arabs showed Israel many times they want peace, but a peace where all occupied lands must be released, and all Palestinian refugees must be able to go back and live peacefully in Israel/Palestine.
But Israel peace is like this: I killed your mother, raped your sister, destroyed your home, and kicked you out, but hay, let’s forget all about this, and live happily ever after, and believe me this will never happen.
“Show me that you are mature and respective nation, that I can live with you safely.”
We don’t hate for nothing, we hate for a reason, we are not a death wisher, reasons are very clear, fix them and peace is so easy to achieve.
You will be safe as mush as we are safe from you.
and really do u feel unsaftey from us????!! I think you should fear your government, that destroy whole nation for 2 soldiers, we should feel unsafe from you.
you should fear the extremism Jewish who hate Arabs and Muslims for nothing, who consider that Israel is safer when others are not safe, and they are againest any peace process, do I have to tell you who screwed the last peace process by killing Rabin.
you should fear your massive nuclear weapons which I don’t know why you made them, to nuke US !!!? wow, what a great solution for Israel safety.
Alloush is from Ali.
I’m an Arabic, from Syria.
Hu, there is a lot of problems with the CAPTCHA…. please fix it…
Best,
Tal
[...] che ti importa più dei Palestinesi che degli Israeliani. Quando quattro persone innocenti sono rimaste uccise da un bulldozer, tu ti sei preoccupata di come definire l'autista, se assassino o terrorista. In questo caso, [...]