Selective Condemnations of Terrorism Yet Again


We note with dismay that Charles Kennedy has sacked Jenny Tonge, the Liberal Democrats' spokeswoman for children, following her statement that, while not condoning Palestinian suicide bombers, she understood the hopelessness and despair which Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians produces and which leads some young people to such dreadful acts. We note also that Dr Tonge has been accused of "giving the green light to terrorism".
We are six people from Scotland currently in Palestine observing at first hand the cruelty of Israeli policy towards all the people of Palestine. Israel's terrorisation of the Palestinian people and Israel's record, past and present, of mass killings, collective reprisals, and destruction of
a whole nation have obviously driven the Palestinian people to the edge of despair. The hatred thus engendered is multiplied by the record of Western politicians who so often display double standards by demanding a condemnation of Palestinian terrorism while turning a blind eye to Israel's terrible crimes against the Palestinian section of humanity.

when ever Israel kills Palestinian civilians- which is the daily fact of life in Palestinian that the western media never mentions any more- even the most progressive in the west -particularly Britain- is one of "regret for the innocent loss of life" accompanied by the usual line "Israel has the right to protect it self", we believe that this in fact is the real GREEN LIGHT FOR STATE TERRORISM.

Mick Napier,
Chair, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
( from occupied palestine)