Israelis left right and center consistently say that if only the Palestinians would learn how to express themselves politically w/o violence, then we`d have a civil exchange. Does Ali Baher`s apprehension not give the lie to this perennial claim?
Peres is a complicated politician, but the fact remains that 102 refugees were killed at a clearly marked UN outpost in Operation "Grapes of Wrath" in 1996, overseen by Peres. Scores of other civilians were killed, 400,000 driven from their homes. Historian Avi Shlaim called Grapes of Wrath "the equivalent of using a bulldozer to weed a garden" -- basically the type of response that makes one look "tough" for domestic consumption.
Some Israeli citizens understandably haven`t forgotten this operation. It`s their right to express their protest in a peaceful way. The student chair didn`t attack Peres. He symbolically expressed his view. But even when non-violent protest is used by Arabs in Israel, apparently that`s unacceptable as well. |
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