COLUMN: Israel victim of terrorism

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by Gerald Falchook

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DID ANYONE read the paper last weekend? The Houston Chronicle reported all the usual bad stuff: a house fire in Tennessee, the funeral of the brave 7-year old Jessica Dubroff, yada, yada, yada.

And then there was the big story: Israel Attacks Lebanon. National news services depicted Israel as a hostile nation on a violent rampage, forcing innocent civilians to flee.

If I didn't know any better, I would have believed this picture of the sinister aggressor oppressing the helpless victim. A friend, sensing my skepticism with the article, asked me, "So, did Israel invade Lebanon or didn't it?"

"Yes, of course Israel invaded Lebanon," I replied. "The paper is very clear about that."

Then it was my turn. I asked him, "Do you know why Israel invaded Lebanon?" He didn't know.

I picked up the paper and flipped back to page 21, where the news story continued, and I asked him to read the explanatory passage.

"`Following recent attacks into northern Israel in recent weeks, Israel launched its air campaign against Lebanon on Thursday, targeting suspected guerrilla positions in southern Lebanon and south Beirut.' Oh, I get it. Israel wants revenge," he said, beaming like a newly enlightened barbarian.

"No, Israel wants peace on its northern border. And by the way, the media doesn't call that revenge. They call it `retaliation.'"

"Who are they retaliating against?"

"Hezbollah, a terrorist organization of Shiite Muslim guerrillas whose stated purpose is the destruction of the state of Israel. They feel wronged by the creation of Israel in 1948 on land they consider exclusively theirs. Yet, they oppose the peace process and the efforts to establish a Palestinian autonomous entity alongside Israel. They are supported by Iran and Syria. They fire Katyusha rockets at towns and villages in northern Israel."

"What kind of rockets?"

"Katyusha rockets. They are small missiles. The Hezbollah likes to use them because they are portable and have the potential to cause a lot of damage and destruction. You can hide one of those suckers in the trunk of your car. This makes it easy for Hezbollah members to come right up to the border, shoot and make a fast getaway."

"Gee, why does the Lebanese government allow Hezbollah to operate from within Lebanon? It sounds like Hezbollah is causing Lebanon a lot of trouble."

"Lebanon is owned by Syria. No, really, it is. Syria has over 35,000 troops stationed there. All potential peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are dependent on peace negotiations between Israel and Syria. The newspapers here use very tactful wording to avoid emphasizing this rather embarrassing relationship.'"

"So much, so complex. What about Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinians?"

"Together with them, Israel is engaged in the historic effort to establish peaceful relations, to create political stability and promote economic prosperity. This will not happen overnight. They have a bumpy road, but at least they are taking the right path."

And so, I helped to clarify things for a friend who was slightly confused by the recent turn of events.

What will happen now? Your guess is as good as mine. But I do know this: Israel is being asked by the world order to play a diplomatic game where some, but not all of its neighbors, want to make peace.

Israel is asked not to respond to the Katyusha rockets that hit towns and villages in northern Israel. Israel is asked not to protest that the people who live there must live in underground bomb shelters for safety.

Israel is asked to accept terrorism as a way of life, as a hardship to be endured. Israel is asked to play the role of passive, helpless victim. Israel can't do that and won't do that. I don't believe that violence is the correct means to resolve conflicts. I don't think Israeli leaders wish to see their young men and women go off to war. Israel is a nation that has endured too much suffering to wsih for more of it.

But, as much as Israelis want peace -- and do not think for a moment that every Israeli does not want peace -- they cannot ignore serious threats to the safety and security of Israel's citizens.

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the April 19, 1996 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
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