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A tempest erupted in the Knesset in the wake of a bill introduced by the Hadash faction, saying that the armed struggle by Palestinians against IDF soldiers in the territories should be considered legitimate action and not terrorist activity.
The bill, which was introduced in the Knesset yesterday, was initiated by MK Issam Mahoul. It was also signed by faction members Tamar Gozansky and Mohammed Barakeh. According to the bill, the Law to Prevent Terror will be changed so that a “terrorist” is defined only as someone who carries out acts of violence that target civilians, or threatens to use arms for mass annihilation. In contrast to this, Hadash faction members propose that actions against the Israeli occupation, i.e., against IDF soldiers, be recognized as legitimate and not as acts of terror.
MK Tamar Gozansky explained last night that the UN Convention as well as a series of international conventions, recognize the right of nations to fight against occupation, and that a struggle against armies of occupation is considered a national struggle for rights. She said that Palestinian resistance against occupation should also be recognized as legitimate activity, just like that of the Jewish underground during the period of the British mandate, and that a distinction should be drawn between that and attacking civilians. “Every time the IDF plants bombs, shoots and bombards, they say it is a military action. But when the Palestinians fight against the Israeli occupation army, they say it’s terror. We have to define exactly what terror is.”
Communications Minister Ruby Rivlin (Likud) responded: “The Hadash faction has crossed the line. It is accusing Israel and the IDF of terrorist actions against the Palestinians.”
MK Uri Ariel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu): “Tamar Gozansky and her friends are actually proposing that IDF soldiers be attacked and murdered. They don’t belong in the Knesset. Shocking is an understatement in the light of such abandon. There is a deep moral perverseness here.”
This article ran in Maariv on December 31, 2001
