'Terrorism' is a response to military invasion,

resistance to military occupation,

or acts that are distinctly intended

to retaliate against a nation itself

engaged in killing innocent civilians,

from which the so-called “terrorists” emerge

The Palestinian suicide bomber

of the second Intifada

was not a terrorist, but an avenger.

Opinions to the contrary merely repeat

a line of propaganda offered by

the Israeli and US governments,

who wish to portray the Israelis

as victims of terror

and the Palestinians its perpetrator

Definitions of terrorism never take into consideration motivating circumstances such as military invasion, resistance to military occupation, or acts that are distinctly intended to retaliate against a nation itself engaged in killing innocent civilians, from which the so-called “terrorists” emerge.

Today, these circumstances apply to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and while such acts may indeed be “unjustifiable,” the question of whether suicide bombings should be regarded as “terrorist” acts needs to be asked.

Especially, in the case of “retaliation,” where an eye for an eye may apply toward a state (Israel) that is involved in killing (Palestinian) civilians in order to enforce a military occupation or to quell any resistance to it.

The importance of getting it right is necessitated by Israel’s use of Palestinian suicide bombings during the second Intifada in its propaganda campaign to label Palestinians as terrorists in order to justify its military occupation, in spite of the fact that it has been going on for 40 years.

This latest propaganda effort was clearly exposed in the long running documentary, Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land, where Israel now talks of itself as the victim and justifies the military occupation of the Palestinians as being essential for stopping terrorism, in spite of the fact that its true purpose is to continue the colonization of Palestinian land.

"Driven to desperation by Israeli activities"

The question of what motivates Palestinian suicide bombers to strap on explosives and attempt to kill Israeli citizens has been debated intensively in past years.

The string of attacks during the second Intifada resulted in the deaths of roughly 800 Israeli citizens.

Some Palestinians commentators said the bombers are fueled by revenge and hopelessness brought on by decades of Israeli occupation, which has choked off economic and social life of the Palestinian territories, and by Israeli military actions that have killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians.

Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi told the BBC in 2002 that suicide bombers are “driven to desperation and anger by the Israeli activities.”

Journalist and United Nations official Nasra Hassan, who has done extensive interviews with Palestinian suicide bombers, found that one of their prime goals was to spread fear in the hearts of Israelis.

Hamas members told her that suicide bombings were a legitimate tactic against Israeli aggression.

A study of failed Palestinian suicide bombers by an Israeli psychologist, who I recall being interviewed on TV, reported one single universal shared trait among them: lack of fear (I am unable to link to the study itself).

Other studies by Israeli researchers have found that Palestinian suicide bombers are motivated by many factors, including religion and the desire to avenge the deaths of other Palestinians.

Understandable motivation

So what is it that might have motivated Palestinian suicide bombers during the second Intifada that sets it apart from terrorism as it is formally understood?

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is, of course, the problem. Without the occupation and the colonization of Palestinian lands going on under its protection, and the suffering it has caused the Palestinian people, Israel would never have experienced the suicide bomb culture that occupation sired.

The Palestinian suicide bomber of the second Intifada was not a terrorist, but an avenger.

Opinions to the contrary merely repeat a line of propaganda offered by the Israeli and US governments, who wish to portray the Israelis as victims of terror and the Palestinians its perpetrator.

It is for this reason alone that Israel must maintain its brutal military occupation and explains its current ability to kill Palestinians with impunity. shergald @ Dissident Voice