Israel is expected to have the moral high ground in the issue. Their average living conditions are just vastly better than in average Palestinians, they are a democracy etc.
You're damn right that Israel is democratic. But is it Israel's fault that the Pallies aren't? Why should Israel suffer from dual standards just because Pallie school teachers instruct their pupils that they'll get 72 young hotties if they kill one Jew?
When I call for one standard, I'm not suggesting that Israel lowers hers. I'm suggesting the world stop its hypocrisy and start demanding of the Pallies that they start respecting human rights. If we justify (or 'understand') Pallie terrorism because they're Palestinians, or because they're Arabs, or because they're poor, or because they're not democratic, etc etc than what we are guilty of is considering the Palestinians as less than us. That is racism. I demand the Pallies stop incitement and terrorism because I consider them as equals.
THen comes the Pal stuff. They are a corrupt and nearly anarchist regime, education is nearly nonexistant and if it exists, it's pretty often in the hands of groups like Hamas and so on. Their official regime is in ruins after years of intifada, internal and external warfare, lack of cash, occupation, struggle and that kind of ****. Like in many nations approaching total collapse. Also, their culture is pretty different.
In such case we may understand why the suicide bombings take place, but that does not mean we condone them. With no future, one might grab a piece of TNT and head to fight off the oppressor. OK. The oppressor happens to be a car full of kids. Not ok.
You were doing well, until you forgot the fact that by far and away, most Pallie terrorists/'activists'/'misunderstood democracy lovers'/whatever are actually middle class, well off and have the ability to make a go of it.
Besides, if Pallies wanted peace, they would educate their children to peace. It's as simple as that. But they don't. They are taught that the Jew must die. That ALL of Israel is an occupation, and therefore that 'Palestine' won't be free until Israel is destroyed. That
shahada, or death for Allah, is something to be attained.
And then what do we see? We see young children on official television start to repeat these messages.
And then what do we see? We see 14, 15 and 16 year old boys and girls go to the frontlines and endanger themselves - but not because they hate Israel! No! Because, as revealed in the notes they leave at home (and which are proudly reproduced in the Palestinian papers the next day), they proudly claim that they went to the frontlines to seek
shahada. These kids are looking for death not because they are desperate or occupied or whatever, but because they have been taught that it would be a good thing.
And then what do we see? We see summer camps for 14 year old girls named after a 16 year old
shahida!
To summarise it, the PA encourages children to die, children start expressing and acting upon their new found wish to die, and the the PA glorifies their memory. It's a self perpetuating cycle and it is THAT which has caused this terrorism, not Israeli heavy handedness.
Giving good links is not just tampering to some elitism, it's about what kind of impression you give and how people will weigh the info you give them. I do not find a page like the PMW trustworthy. Cite Reuters or something like that. Do not cite a site in which's front page there are just words "welcome to pmw.org" and which's content is just slabbed together. I don't like those rules because they are "elitist", I like those rules because IMHO objective and calm reporting gives everyone a equal chance of figuring out what is happening and form their own opinion.
PMW may have an awful website, and you may even disagree with their conclusions. But they are the only organisation in the world that exclusively monitors and translates official PA media. I wasn't linking you to that site for a lesson in webpage publication, but to read the words of the PA to its citizens translated verbatim into English. I can assure you that if Reuters were to supply the same service, I would link you to their (much prettier) site. But they don't. So I can't.
Look past the ugly website. Can you justify (or even 'understand') the PA telling its people that if you die without wanting to kill Jews, then you don't actually die a Muslim at all? Because that's what it tells its constituents. I'd link you to the site, but, oh, it's ugly and 'just slabbed together'.
I don't see you condemning the Sabra massacre. Oh, but do we justify that, do we?
I unreservedly condemn all those that took part in the massacres of Sabra and Chatilla. Those that took part should be tried for war crimes. Absolutely nothing in the world justifies deliberate attacks on civilians, because this is terrorism. The Phalange Christians that carried out that massacre should be shot.
I don't see you condemning East Timor situation!
I know little of the East Timor situation. As far as I know, Australian-led forces have stabilsed the country, killed off the Indonesian militants and are currently helping East Timor to establish itself among the countries of the world. Not much to condemn there!
ALL deliberate targeting of civlians is wrong. It's as simple as that. Terrorism is the deliberate targeting of civilians. People who attempt to justify or 'understand' terrorism are almost as bad as the terrorists themselves.
