…continued from “No One Deserves This Fate” (i.e. read the part(s) below first)
Just how much can you blame on their social circumstances?
Shouldn’t the Palestinians be able to realize that they must be doing something wrong when everyone is against them? Granted that they are often misinformed, but they should recognize the inherent injustice in attacking civilians. We can still hold them responsible for their actions even though they are victims of circumstance. We don’t let murderers and drug dealers out of prison because they grew up in bad homes, and we can apply the same kind of justice to those who engage in acts of violence directed against civilians… But when this argument us used it is often a deliberate misdirection. I don’t think many people believe that terrorism is in fact justified (at least I hope not), so it oversimplifies the dynamics of the situation. The focus of my investigation is centered on Israeli-Palestinian policies and not anti-terror strategies (except so far as they relate to the development and growth of violent sentiments in the civilian population). The terrorists can’t escape culpability because of their circumstances; applying this kind of justice is in complete opposition to the foundations of modern liberal societies. But when the sense of frustration and dissatisfaction harbored by the average Palestinian citizen, generated by the deplorable conditions of their everyday life, turns into hatred of their much better off neighbors, it is understandable even though the consequences are not tolerable.
No comments:
Post a Comment