Accepted Wisdom: Palestinian violence is a direct result of the fact that they are under Israeli occupation. Palestinians were driven to extremism by Israeli occupation. Palestinian nazism and anti-Semitism are a direct result of Israeli occupation. Radicalization of Israeli Arabs is a direct result of Israel’s refusing to agree to grant the Palestinians their own state. Palestinians are using mortars and rifles against Jewish civilians because the Israeli governments have refused to remove Jewish settlements. Palestinians have turned to violence because Israeli leaders refused to forego asserting the rights of Jews to visit and pray on the Temple Mount. Palestinians are using terror and violence because Israel uses collective punishment.

Uncomfortable truths: Palestinian violence is a direct result of the fact that they have been released from Israeli occupation. Palestinians were driven to extremism by the removal of Israeli occupation. Palestinian nazism and anti-Semitism are a direct result of the removal of Israeli occupation. Radicalization of Israeli Arabs is a direct result of Israel’s agreeing to grant the Palestinians their own state. Palestinians are using mortars and rifles against Jewish civilians because the Israeli governments have offered to remove Jewish settlements. Palestinians have turned to violence because Israeli leaders agreed to forego asserting the rights of Jews to visit and pray on the Temple Mount. Palestinians are using terror and violence because Israel has renounced the use of collective punishment.

Copyright © 2001 by Steven Plaut.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission