The ABC of the Middle Eastern Conflict
Information useful for writing effective letters

Ceasefire ( in Arabic: Ceasefire with non-muslims = "Hudna" )

Much has been written about the proposed cease-fire, or 'hudna' between Israel and the Palestinians, that would stop Palestinian terror for a while and let Israel's troups withdraw from Gaza. Cease-fire with non-Muslims is termed a 'HUDNA' in Arabic. It refers to a 10 year truce agreement entered into by Mohammed, which he broke on a minor pretext as soon as his strength was improved (after two years) and slaughtered the counterpart taken by complete surprise. In this context it is clear why Israel must be wary, particularly about releasing, within such a 'hudna', the most experienced Arab terrorists with much civilian blood on their hands , taken into custody after March 2001 (when in one month alone 120 Israeli civilians were murdered in two dozen Palestinian terror attacks).

There is more in it for the Palestinians than just a respite to allow them to draw breath. It is an important opportunity to create greater political unity. The question is, whether they unite for peace or for a renewed terror war? One more unanswered question is whether it is better for the terrorist groups to be an armed opposition in the PA or an armed part of the PA government? Given that they receive funding directly from Arafat in any case, there is a good reason for Israel to be most cautious.

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Checkpoints

Reaction on the article Globe & Mail 06 feb, M. Wente: "Palestinian Life at the checkpoint"

To Margaret Wente and the Editors of the Globe & Mail:

The checkpoints are indeed an indignity to palestinians. For Israeli women, men, and children however, daily commuting imposes an indignity as well: Not the indignity of an unexpected lengthy delay, but of not knowing whether today's bus ride or shopping-mall trip might be one's very last.

Though your palestinian professor has not chosen to mention this inconvenient fact, checkpoints have repeatedly been used by armed palestinians to perpetrate lethal violence against Israeli soldiers and civilians.  On 2002/02/19, armed palestinians ambushed and killed 6 IDF soldiers at an army checkpoint.  Israel has evidence that palestinians systematically abuse Israel's humanitarian policies by  impersonating medical personnel - and even using Red Crescent ambulances - to smuggle weapons through checkpoints.

Ms. Wente, as you have eloquently described on the pages of the Globe and Mail, in palestinian society, death is so venerated that even mothers of suicide terrorist bombers, upon hearing of the death of their child and the many innocent Israeli men, women, children and babies he or she slaughtered, "will be pressed to ululate with joy, not weep with grief. Their pictures will appear on next year's calendar of martyrs, and they will become instant heroes to the children whose counterparts they blew up a few miles away."

Surely you will understand that until the palestinian arabs' indoctrination and support of death and violence ceases, Israel has no choice other than to enforce strict checkpoints, or even more innocent Israelis will be murdered.

Respectfully,
D.G.
Toronto

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 July 11, 2002

JERUSALEM -- Amnesty International condemned Palestinian suicide bombings and other attacks on Israeli civilians Thursday as "crimes against humanity" and unjustified by Palestinian political grievances.

The London-based human rights organization had previously accused Israel of violating Palestinian rights in the Mideast conflict, but the lengthy report focused on the Palestinian violence that amnesty said had killed about 350 Israeli civilians.

"The attacks against civilians by Palestinian armed groups are widespread, systematic and in pursuit of an explicit policy to attack civilians," the Amnesty report said. "They constitute crimes against humanity ... They may also constitute war crimes."

Some Palestinian extremists argue that since most Israelis, both men and women, serve in the military, virtually all Israelis are legitimate targets for attack. Also, many Palestinians claim that Israeli settlers, including women and children, are valid targets because they live in the overwhelmingly Palestinian areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many bomb attacks have also hit buses or cafes where a small number of uniformed soldiers may be present among a larger group of civilians.

Amnesty said such attacks were unjustified.
"The occasional presence of soldiers among passengers on ordinary commuter buses ... in a cafe or shoppers in a market does not make such venues legitimate targets for attacks," the Amnesty report added.

The Amnesty report said "no violations by the Israeli government, no matter their scale or gravity, justify the killing of ... civilians."

Opinion polls have consistently shown that suicide bombings have strong support among the Palestinian population. In Palestinian public rallies, suicide bombers are glorified as martyrs, with posters of the bombers plastered on walls throughout Palestinian cities and towns.
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Cycle of Violence: This blurry euphemism exonerates the perpetrators of violence by not naming them and by equating them with the victims. Blame is cast on an anonymous, non-human force. It should be noted that this language is often reserved for cases in which Israelis are victims of Palestinian violence. In contrast, when Israelis are responsible for the deaths of Palestinians, the language tends to be more direct, such as “Israelis kill Palestinian.”

The entire concept of attack and response in the so-called cycle of violence misses the crux of the situation. The cycle does not begin with attack and counter attack. It starts with the obscene incitement to hate and kill all infidels, preached daily in the fundamentalist mosques, schools and media not only in Palestine, but in Asia, Europe and the USA. - Read the relevant Reader's letter

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