Many Americans are confused about the term “terrorism.” Is Israel reacting to or inciting terrorism? An article published in this newspaper on Sept. 11 made the assumption that Israelis and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) use terrorism. The definition of terrorism from the Miriam-Webster Dictionary is “the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion.” To clarify, coercing means to “restrain or dominate by force.” Israel does not use terrorism in the sense of dominating the Palestinians in an aggressive, systematic way. Israel uses counterterrorism initiatives to defend its nation against terrorist groups that want to annihilate the State of Israel.
Since the establishment of Israel, the state has been attacked by surrounding Arab nations. It should be understood that the IDF was organized to defend Israel, not to attack Arab nations. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), however, was formed to organize anti-Israel militant groups.
Between Sept. 28, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2005, there were 25,770 terrorist attacks against Israel, 147 suicide bombings, 1,084 Israelis killed and 7,454 wounded, according to Israeli sources.
Israel must use force against Palestinians in order to maintain security for all lawful citizens including innocent Palestinians, Lebanese and Arab-Israelis. While I agree that what Palestinian refugees experience in the occupied territories is terrible, I do not agree that it is at the fault of the IDF or Israel. The IDF must be strong in order to take the defensive against its neighbors who want to destroy it.
Yasser Arafat, the leader of the PLO from 1964 to his death in 2004, said himself in 1996, “You understand that we plan to eliminate the State of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare and population explosion . I have no use for Jews; they are and remain Jews.”
Israel does not want to destroy Palestine or Palestinians, or any other Arab nation. Israel has offered peace negotiations many times-only to be turned down by the PLO. Because of these persistent attacks against Israel, it is forced to create counterterrorism strategies that include checkpoints, bypass roads and a security fence in Jerusalem. The number of terrorist attacks has decreased by 90 percent since construction of the fence began in 2002.
While Israel’s counterterrorism programs have affected innocent Palestinians and Israelis, its main concern is national security. Israel is ready for compromise and peace negotiations with Palestine; however, it is difficult to negotiate with those who have institutionalized anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Hamas’ official Charter reads, “The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews [and kill them]; until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him! This will not apply to the Gharqad, which is a Jewish tree (cited by Bukhari and Muslim).” ?
Israel is not a terrorist country; rather, in responding to terror, has been able to simply survive. Israel has demonstrated its ability to compromise in a peaceful way while maintaining a strong military making it effective in responding to terrorism and an important ally of the United States.
Sarah Markenson is a senior in the School of Public Service, co-founder of the SLU Jews and a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow. StandWithUs is an international education organization that ensures that Israel’s story is told in communities, campuses, libraries, the media and churches.
