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Gur Hirshberg |
The statement says "The road to a just solution in Israel-Palestine is signposted by 'mutual recognition' and 'political dialogue' not the blind alley of terrorism." Of course on most actual roads, ignoring most signposts, and going down most blind alleys brings only an increased level of danger. Going down the blind alley of terrorism brings—and is intended to bring--certain death and maiming. Mutual recognition and political dialogue are necessary for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, for which we must strive. But the cessation of terrorism is morally imperative in any case, whether peace is just around the corner or not. The Palestinians may have legitimate grievances against Israel even after the advent of a Palestinian state, but it is no more legitimate for them to use terrorism now that they are stateless than it will be when there is a Palestinian state: statelessness is not a warrant for terrorism; nothing is. There will, in peacetime as now, continue to be some Jews and Palestinians who will deny each other's rights to self-determination. But a denial more profound and wicked than the failure to recognize others' rights to self-determination drives terrorism: the denial of others' very humanity. Gur Hirshberg |