How can we help stop Terrorism/Resistance ?

In order to bring about a change first we have to assess what it is we wish to change and then establish what we want the change to be.

So to this we have to define terrorism. Correctly we would say that terrorism is an attack on non combat civilians or infrastructure not directly involved in any war aim.

The legal systems or the individuals who concentrate on what is a legal target and what is not, will of course present their one sided view and each description of legal target could be contested by the other side.” If we are to help we must look for ourselves”.

The definition of an attack could also be contested as direct physical damage or taking a part of land without any blood loss, either way one side feels a sense of loss and has genuine complaint. The term or justification that an act is right only applies to one side and at best can only be seen as justification or excuse. “If we are to help we must judge impartially”.

In any conflict there are two possible outcomes; (One) one side totally dominates the other or (two) a third party intervenes and deals with both sides of complaint leading to an amicable end to a conflict. Here we expect the systems such as the United Nations to have the authority to intervene as a non biased organization. I will sate, I am not looking to criticize the work of United Nations. Indeed it may serve us well to spend some time researching the other groups and organizations which hamper the usefulness of the peacemaking role of the United Nations. To quote M Gandhi “the very essence of democracy is that every person represents all the varied interests which compose the nation”.

Many are now criticising the United Nations where it is Critical of an activity conducted by a party this may be due to the fact that the United Nations has enabled many otherwise silenced countries to have a voice and older organisations still are unwilling to loose the benefits they thought they would gain by uniting with stronger countries. Perhaps when we have true democracy in our own countries we will be able to look to the United Nations to act as a Judge over national disputes.

Another issue which appears unbalanced is the pursuit of war criminals and the labels attached to those who either were true monsters or following orders. Some may claim that we have choice to follow orders or to disobey them. A fair an impartial judge would consider if the laws of the land, at that time would have made disobedience a treasonable offence that could off led to the death of an individual had they not complied.  If that was the case then it should be enough for the sentencing of the leaders of the regime that made the initial order. Perusing individuals only serves celebrity and continues the cycle of revenge. We should also consider the affect of Martyr syndrome and its ability to generate further conflicts over what is considered unbalanced justice. To make the claim that it is wrong to worship Martyrs may be theologically correct, however if we accept evolution as a theory; we are but walking apes and we can only strive to better ourselves and seek the bigger picture (?).

Let us look at so labelled terrorism currently created by Hamas according to the Zionist supporters a terrorist organisation. At time of writing this they are not acting as a terrorist group as above described, they are not firing rockets and they are containing other groups so that they also are not firing rockets into what the United Nations considers occupied territory. However they still are not having their compliant addressed that is

(1) The release of the Palestinians held in Israeli prisons

(2) The opening of the borders routes for international trade and movement of peoples between Gaza and the West bank

(3) The return of Lands occupied by the Israeli occupation

(4) The right of return of people displaced by the previous 1948 and post wars.

We could also state that Israel is deliberately obstructing outside agenises from helping rebuild the damage that Israel has created with their blitzkrieg of Gaza. We could also claim that Egyptian authorities could do more to help but for whatever reason lossed to me they appear to be supporting Israel’s attempt at containing the peoples of Gaza in the created poverty. Perhaps the joint efforts at excavating the red seas Gas potentials have swayed the Egyptian government to forget the humanitarian crises their new friends have created and are still creating. The claim that opening borders would enable further Israeli land claims holds no ground when people are without basic living supplies like fresh water and food and since the Christmas blitzkrieg little shelter. Egypt could offer an official trade and aid route which would limit the amount of control Israel has with these necessary daily needs. It may also reduce the need for the tunnelling which Israel plays great concern over. Again the Controlling activities of Israel with their wish to subdue Hammas becoming accepted within the international communities, creates the need for tunnelling. What foodstuffs and other items we would come to enjoy come through these tunnels however nobody doubts that arms also are being passed through. The answer perhaps would be better resolved if there was no need to resist. To add to the equation there have been civil disputes between the armed wings of the Fatah party and the elected Hammas leadership also, some would suggest on Israel’s payroll.

When we come to examine these requests for a balanced outcome we find that Israel is in breach of the Geneva Convention over the conditions set for detention of prisoners of war and is disregarding previous United Nations Mandates that were agreed. We could also point out here that Israel is in defiance of the Balfour declaration which is the basis for NATO or rather British support. I would further suggest here that the British government support our non aversive boycott of Israeli products and put a hold on the friends of Israel group until Israel addresses previous United Nations mandates and behaves with compliance of international laws that we originally were part in the creation of.

 In Israel’s defence they would claim that (1) releasing the Palestinian prisoners would put themselves at risk. (2) The lifting of restrictions also would put themselves at risk. (3) The return of the Palestinian lands they do not give a reason here (4) Allowing the return of the peoples displaced, they also avoid giving reason. We can suggest that 3 and 4 would infringe on their plan to dominate the land by creating their Jewish state. We could respond that the risk assessment used here is the cause of resistance. Risk Assessment can punish people where they have not actually committed a crime creating resentment towards the imposing authority. We hear often the term collective punishment.

We have the understanding that not all Jewish people are supportive of the Zionist goals in fact the Hasidic communities or the followers of Orthodox Judaism are the loudest critics, as indeed are many of those with a Jewish Ancestry who we have the privilege to live side by side with us within our multi cultural societies. We could also commend those inside Israel who also are disturbed enough to break ranks with the current leaderships self destructive actions regardless of the cost to themselves. We are reminded, due to their efforts of the White Rose Club that had the courage to stand up against the tyranny of the Nsdap's policies of discrimination. A small group of students, which sadly to our regret are forgotten, by those who remind us of the outcome of racially motivated policies but cannot accept their policies are motivated by that same desire. It is a great loss that the suffering of Ann Franks eclipses the names of Hans, Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst. In truth we should remember all. That is if we truly mean it, when we say never again or are we misusing history as diversion to continue our own actions. We could in truth say it is not accurate to compare the Warsaw Ghettoes with Gaza as the imposing authority however inhumane they were, did not bomb the ghetto nor did they prevent external aid. What cruelties were inflicted and to what extent is perhaps not as important as the fact there were many war crimes against the different non German peoples of Europe. There is little remembrance for those who gave their lives fighting against the spread of Nazism. Chiefly British, French, Russian and American. Not forgetting the resistance efforts of the Hungarians and Poles and the many non European soldiers who stood side by side with the alliance.

If we are truly to remove the risk from our shores and be a true good friend to Israel we must listen and act on complaints before those complaints become grievances. But we can only do this if we act impartially and be unmotivated by anything other than the desire to create a balanced peace that satisfies both parties or at least offers some consolation. It is not the creation of the state of Israel that is the problem it is the disintegration of the Palestinian one.

Peter O’Donnell