The Palestine Papers

[Beirut]

A question for Beirut:
I recall from previous threads about Israel that you blame the Israelis and their dehumanizing treatment of Palestinians for the Palestinian's terrorism directed at Israel. I recall a different discussion about the Hells Angels in Canada and how you would want very violent things to happen to the Hells Angels as punishment for their crimes.

I asked if you could not see how the Israelis felt the same way about the Palestinians that you do about the Hells Angels.

The Hells Angels are a criminal organization. The Palestinians are a people.

You replied that you and Canada have never done to the Hells Angels what the Israelis have done to the Palestinians - occupation, war, etc.

That made me think; how would you react if the Native Americans in Canada had responded to their poor treatment in the same way Palestinians had; with terrorism?

I would support the native people taking any actions required to protect themselves as long as those actions did not involve targeting innocent civilians. And besides, who says the Palestinian response is always terrorism? Sometimes it is, yes. But just as often, and more, and with far worse results, the Israelis indulge in acts of terrorism. Those Israeli acts of terrorism kill far, far more Palestinians than Palestinans terrorist have killed Israelis.

For our part, Canada has been responsible for the brutal and inhuman mistreatement of native peoples, and slowly, too slowly, we are coming to terms with it. Part of that redemption process, if you want to call it that, is that Canada gives jurisdictional rights to its native people that I think few countries in the world do.

If you view Palestinians as justified, then certainly the Indians of North America would be justified in using terrorism against the Canadian (or US for that matter) governments.

You are assuming and implying by the construction of your statement that I support terrorism. I do not. I support the right of the Palestinians to defend themselves. It is not the same thing.