Intifada and Palestinian PoliticsIsrael and Palestine
Tracks information on the Intifada -- its roots and significant events -- and also about Palestinian Politics, the relationships and power issues
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Palestinian Resistance Must Retain Its Moral Edge: not target civilians even it seems inconsistent, one-sided
Palestinian Resistance Must Retain Its Moral Edge: "Ramzy Baroud, Special to Arab News | AMMAN, 2 January 2004
Palestinian resistance factions must stop targeting Israeli civilians, with or without an officially bargained cease-fire and regardless of what Israel and its reckless government do in response. This is imperative if the Palestinian struggle is to safeguard its historic values and maintain its morality.
For some, such reasoning may seem inconsistent, one-sided even; after all, the Israeli Army continues to target civilians unhindered, so why deny Palestinians the right to retaliate?
Palestinians have the right of self-defense, and the unequivocal right of ridding themselves of the occupation. These rights are protected in international law and require little debate or intellectual tussling. But it is wrong for the occupied � who surely have the moral edge � to use the same illegitimate means as the occupier. International law makes a clear distinction, as should the Palestinian resistance, between occupying military forces and civilians. If Palestinians waver from this crucial line of reasoning, their historically virtuous struggle risks being tainted with moral corruption. " ...
Palestinian Resistance Must Retain Its Moral Edge: "Ramzy Baroud, Special to Arab News | AMMAN, 2 January 2004
Palestinian resistance factions must stop targeting Israeli civilians, with or without an officially bargained cease-fire and regardless of what Israel and its reckless government do in response. This is imperative if the Palestinian struggle is to safeguard its historic values and maintain its morality.
For some, such reasoning may seem inconsistent, one-sided even; after all, the Israeli Army continues to target civilians unhindered, so why deny Palestinians the right to retaliate?
Palestinians have the right of self-defense, and the unequivocal right of ridding themselves of the occupation. These rights are protected in international law and require little debate or intellectual tussling. But it is wrong for the occupied � who surely have the moral edge � to use the same illegitimate means as the occupier. International law makes a clear distinction, as should the Palestinian resistance, between occupying military forces and civilians. If Palestinians waver from this crucial line of reasoning, their historically virtuous struggle risks being tainted with moral corruption. " ...
