Attacks on Civilians Unpopular: Commentary

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 23, 2002

Attacks on Civilians Unpopular: Commentary

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A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in western Jerusalem Thursday morning, killing at least 11 Israeli civilians and injuring about 50 others, in the first such attack masterminded by a Palestinian militant group in Jerusalem since July.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has strongly condemned the suicide attack, saying it "tarnished the international image of the Palestinians."

Since the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada (uprising) against Israel in late September 2000, armed conflict between Israel and Palestinians has been escalating. Suicide bombings against Israeli targets have continuously taken place in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, causing heavy casualties. Most of those killed and injured have been Israeli civilians.

According to statistics from the Israeli public transportation company, suicide bombings on buses have killed about 100 people and injured more than 600 others over the past two years. Suicide bombers have frequently appeared at railway stations, bus stops, open markets, streets, restaurants and discos, causing panic in the general public.

Suicide bombing, a particular phenomenon in the Palestinian Intifada, is a result of the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 30-year-old Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories has resulted in feelings of despair on the part of some Palestinians, which in turn has given rise to extremism and hatred, thus creating a hotbed for suicide bombings.

Over the past two years, the Israeli government has used excessive force against Palestinians, in an attempt apply militaryadvantage to destroy the will of Palestinians to resist, and to gain security guarantee for the Israelis. As a result, a large number of Palestinians have become victims of violence.

Even at times when the conflict has relatively eased, the Israeli government continues to conduct "target killing" of leaders of militant Palestinian groups and those on the wanted list, in the name of counter-terrorism. Consequently, reprisals between the two sides have been escalating in a vicious cycle.

Of course, the Palestinians have the right to resist, but the use of violence and the killing of innocent civilians by extremistorganizations and individuals go against international law and humanitarian principles, and are unacceptable to any cultural value and religious belief. Therefore, the PNA and the international community have condemned suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and called on those extremist organizations and individuals to stop such extremist acts.

It is widely accepted that no just cause should proceed at the expense of innocent lives, and suicide bombing could only complicate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict instead of ending it.

Palestinian officials have always maintained that suicide bombing has harmed the supreme interests of the Palestinian national cause and provided Israel with an excuse for its escalation of military attacks.

Numerous facts in the continued conflict over the past two years have indicated that suicide bombing has contributed to dampening the confidence of Israeli people in their security, as well as their aspirations for peace. It has also contributed to strengthening the ranks of hardliners in Israel. The Israeli government has since extended military actions inside Palestinian-controlled territories.

The safety of Palestinian leaders and the future of the PNA have also been threatened, and Palestinian people are living underharsh conditions. Suicide bombing, therefore, has brought no good either to the Palestinians or the Israelis. It has proven to be something unpopular.

Numerous lessons of bloody conflict have indicated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a no-win round of wrestling. Suicide bombing by Palestinian extremists and Israeli military actions have victimized both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and dimmed hopes for peace.

To sum up, it is imperative for both Israel and the Palestinians to exercise self-restraint, halt violence and strive to seek solutions to the decades-old conflict by restarting negotiations.

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