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From: koved@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Zionist == terrorist?????
Message-ID: <3740@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Nov-83 19:54:34 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3740
Posted: Fri Nov 11 19:54:34 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Nov-83 08:56:22 EST
References: <3659@uiucdcs.UUCP> <2641@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 46

Dave, your comment that Zionists used terrorist tactics deserves
some explaination.  As you said, the use of terrorism was not frequent,
although it did occur.  This must be set in context!

During WWII, the moderate arab leaders in Palastine were murdered by
those leaders who believed they could gain power through an alliance
with Hitler.  These Nazi supporters were those who were interested
in exterminating the Jews, and taking over the region from their
colonial rulers (the British).  These murders lead to pogroms, and
riots against the Jews who were legally living in Palastine.  These
actions raised some difficult problems for the Jews who were trying
to live peacefully with their arab neighbors, and reclaim swampland.
The Jews had to arm themselves, and sometimes travel in armored convoys.
The British, trying to placate the arabs, let them pretty much do as
they pleased, and passed laws which made it difficult for the Jews to
defend themselves and their property.

The attitude of the British persisted, even after WW II, up until
the establishment of the State of Israel.  The British persisted in
their pro-arab policies.  It is a miracle that Israel even exists!

The whole point of this tirade is to give some background on why some
of the current problems exist.  The politically motivated murders in
the '30s and '40's contributed to the hostility which exists today.
During the *War for Independence* when Israel was established (note
Israel was attacked by its arab neighbors, not the other way around),
some of the arab leaders were exhorting their people to kill the Jews
and take their homes and land!  The Jews fought back and drove them
out of Israel.  This is the origins of the *Palastinean Refugees*.
Since then, the palastineans have used terrorist tactics to kill
Isrealis (men, women AND CHILDREN).  These terrorists do not understand
anything except terror.  Israel has struck back using conventional means
and equivalent terrorist tactics.  Their targets are against terrorists
(military targets), not the *refugees* (the problem of the refugees is
a seperate topic altogether).
The use of conventional military tactics do not always work (ie: Vietnam).
Sabatoge and terrorist tactics may be the only way to stop terrorists.
(Nobody said that terrorism is pleasant business!).

Enough of my rambling.

On another related subject: any opinions on what will happen to Arafat?
                            What about Syria's involvment?


- Larry