Jerusalem Post Columnist Calls Eilat Terror Attack “Justified”

[shira]

Calling his comments “an attempt at patriotism,” Jerusalem Post columnist and well-known political commentator Larry Derfner endorsed the use of violence against Israeli citizens this week in an article posted on the self-described left-wing Zionist blog “Israel Reconsidered.”

Derfner, well known as a staunch advocate for a two-state solution, posted a link to his article on Facebook on Monday, drawing praise from friends for his contention that “Palestinians have the right to resist —to use violence against Israelis, even to kill Israelis.” This is especially the case, Derfner wrote, since “Israel is showing zero willingness to end the occupation, which has been the case since the Netanyahu government took over.”

According to Derfner, Israelis, many of whom he regards as secretly agreeing with him, do not want to come out and say this, however, for “fear of being called a traitor.” However, he asserted, “it’s time to overcome this reticence, even at the cost of enflaming the already enflamed sensitivities of the Israeli public, because this unwillingness to say outright that Palestinians have the right to fight the occupation, especially now, inadvertently helps keep the occupation going.”

Continuing to explain his thesis, Derfner argued that since the continuing Israeli presence in the territories validates Palestinian terrorism, “the Left’s ritual condemnations of terror are translated in the Israeli public’s mind as justification for the occupation and an iron-fist military policy.” “But if, on the other hand, we were to say very forthrightly what many of us believe and the rest of us suspect—that the Palestinians, like every nation living under hostile rule, have the right to fight back, that their terrorism, especially in the face of a rejectionist Israeli government, is justified—what effect would that have?” he asked. “A powerful one, I think, because the truth is powerful.”

more...
http://www.5tjt.com/local-news/11565-jerusalem-post-columnist-calls-eilat-terror-attack-justified

[bemildred]

1. Take that "right" and a few shekels, you could get your self a cup of Starbucks. nt

[The Magistrate]

2. Oh, They Certainly Have the Right To Resist, Sir

It is just that the right to resist does not entail a right to mount military operations that have the killing of non-combatants as their sole aim.

If they want to resist, let them shoot at soldiers, like everyone else is expected to do.

[bemildred]

3. Everyone has a right to resist Sir, nobody has a right to win.

Having the right to resist is much like having the right to buy a lotto ticket.

[The Magistrate]

4. Precisely, Sir

The cadence, by the way, reminds me of an old blues lyric:

"Everybody wants ta go ta Heaven; nobody wants ta die...."

[ProgressiveMuslim]

9. Like the IDF shoots at Palestinian "soldiers?" nt

[shira]

11. The IDF's main goal isn't to kill non-combatants...

Facts also show the IDF is more careful than any other military in the world WRT safeguarding civilians in combat situations.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

12. Tell that to the 10 year old with no hands. Going "oops!" after you blow up a family

doesn't make it OK!

[oberliner]

13. Welcome back to the forum!

What made you decide to return?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

16. Saw this post online elsewhere.

What seems pretty clear to me is always verboten here. I wondered if it had been posted and what the reaction was.
Hope you're well.

[shira]

14. So what's the alternative against terror attacks? n/t

[ProgressiveMuslim]

15. Another Palestinian "solider" dies -- this one 13 years old.

http://palsolidarity.org/2011/09/20058/

[aranthus]

5. He has apologized for it.

He has also taken the article down from his blog at Israel Reconsidered. I do not believe that either action was necessary, even though I vehemently disagree with the article itself. While the piece was too easy to misinterpret, I do think that he made his intent clear enough. The Article was wrong, simplistic and wishful thinking, but it was not offensive per se.

Also, the thread referencing the blog seems to have been removed from DU. ?

[Violet_Crumble]

6. I agree with you on that...

I don't think that he needed to apologise to anyone, nor remove the article, but seeing he has, I think it takes a pretty big person to do what he did, as far too many people would have sat there and defended what they said even if they were having second thoughts. He said in his apology that he saw that the distance between 'justify' and 'support' was far too short, and I think if he'd written about understanding the reasons why attacks happen, rather than saying they're justified, it would have probably caused just as much angst in some quarters, but I for one would have had one less point of disagreement with it....

I contacted the mods last night after I read his reasons for deleting his article and asked if they'd delete the OP, as it seemed the right thing to do....

[King_David]

7. Do not know why it was removed from DU

Why should what he said be expunged from history?

Kind of like a whitewash for him.

Post the apology underneath if you must .

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. It's re-printed on Mondoweiss.

[shira]

10. Derfner fired by JPost...

http://israelleft.com/2011/08/29/i-got-fired-by-the-jerusalem-post-today/