An Unofficial Commentary

A Message to the Israeli People

The Palestinian people deplore and condemn the bombing of innocent Jewish civilians, but Mr. Netanyahu must depart from his Talmudic hubris long enough to understand that if he doesn't wish for Israelis to be victims, then they must stop being the executioners of Palestinians.

Israeli state terrorism is seldom factored into the public debate concerning the Palestinian response to the occupation of our homeland. But until the Israelis stop shooting Palestinian children in the head because they throw a stone, we cannot accept the claim that human rights are at all the issue, because without respect for the lives of Palestinians, the peace process cannot be re-started. As recently as four weeks prior to the Jerusalem bombing, Israeli troops shot to death a sixteen year old Palestinian youth (on July 2).

Moreover, Mr. Netanyahu's regime has refused to pay reparations for the April 18, 1996 Israeli massacre at Qana, Lebanon where more than 100 innocent civilians were bombed and murdered. Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to feel that the killing of civilians by the Israeli military is somehow more ethical or justifiable than the killing of civilians which transpired in west Jerusalem on July 30.

Respect for the lives of Israelis and Palestinians is a mutual endeavor. It is predicated on the good will the occupiers must show to the displaced Palestinians. However, if the peace process is merely a smokescreen for the advancement of Israeli gradual ambitions, whereby the Israelis slowly and with stealth absorb our lands and actually "deport" us from our ancient capital city, then quite certainly the Palestinian people will resist. Most have resisted by simple means--a march, a protest, a sling, a stone. A few unfortunately have resorted to bombs But you can not dehumanize us, steal our land and enslave us and then wonder why certain Palestinians go mad with rage and grief and strike back.

The majority of Palestinians want life and they are willing to share this Holy Land with you, the Israeli people, and that was evident in recognizing the State of Israel and the signing of the Oslo accords. But you must choose life and seek to police yourselves, as you have demanded of us. Please cleanse your premises of the Tatiana Susskins, the Baruch Goldsteins, the Noam Friedmans and the Moshe Levengers. Tatiana Susskin's recent hate propaganda "pig flyer" had the intention to incite bloodshed and war according to the statement of her Russian-Jewish boyfriend, and she obviously succeeded.

If we are partners in the peace process you cannot continue to paint us as devils. You must honor the Oslo accords (further redeployment from Zones B and C, lifting the military and economic closure of the Palestinian areas among many other pending issues, and you must acknowledge your own state terrorism, perpetrated against civilians by Israeli warplane, cannon shell and automatic rifle fire.

By dealing with us fairly you can undercut the appeal of extremists. But by swindling us in the name of the peace process you guarantee that the past will be prologue."

Sincerely,

M. H. II
03/08/1997