Aref Assaf, "End occupation, end attacks'" Herald News, 3/7/05
Nothing civilized can possibly justify the murderous attack in Tel Aviv or even
give it purpose ("Blast shatters informal truce," Feb. 26). The attack will only
raise the level of violence for all.
But where was the Herald News when several Palestinians were killed by Israel
two weeks ago? Why does the killing of Israelis end a period of lull, and why is
it more newsworthy and abhorrent than the killing of Palestinians?
Unequivocally, killing of civilians is immoral and criminal, whether perpetrated
by Israel or by the Palestinians. The media's complicity in overlooking
Israeli's abhorrent actions is troubling indeed - and will contribute to an
entrenchment of the conflict. They are all acts of murder and must be
unequivocally opposed.
It is high time that Americans realized that military responses, on either side,
only bring more violence for all. There is a way out of this, and it is the
ending of the occupation.
By starting the process of ending the Israeli occupation, we undermine the
"justification" for attacks like the Tel Aviv bombing. And if they continue
anyway, we will have a Palestinian leadership that has real support for acting
against the perpetrators.
But until the occupation ends, any reasonable Palestinian will wonder, even
while opposing attacks on Israeli civilians, why their leaders should put the
security and welfare of Israelis ahead of the security and welfare of their own
people.
Aref Assaf, President American Arab Forum of New Jersey
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