The media lessons from Northern Ireland, or the North of Ireland, suggest that when spokespersons use the term 'terrorist', we need to consider who is speaking, for whom and to what purpose. Further, that those who hold state power will always be granted free access to the airwaves before anyone else; in fact views from the state and its agencies are frequently given as fact before being checked.
As Allen has pointed out, the British state was not immune to using violence for political purposes, ie terrorism, here. The cases of Bloody Sunday, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Glenanne Gang (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26991706), etc. attest to this.
States have, do, and will use violence to achieve their ends, which might include, but not is restricted to, defending its citizens. In fact, states often use violence against its own citizens (student protests in London, etc) As Deborah has pointed out, there are international laws governing wars. These have consistently and historically been violated by Israel against the Palestinians.
The issue of non-state terrorism requires acknowledgement. But we must not lose site of the fact that states have historically and consistently murdered, maimed and destroyed the lives of more civilians than any oppositional group, no matter how obnoxious its policies. There are, of course, exceptions, which might include NI and Peru, but these remain exceptions. Israel is clearly not an exception.
Lastly, when I consider and appreciate the existential fear of Jews living in Israel, as a legacy of the genocide by the Nazis, I also I reflect on the actual existential threat that Palestinians are forced to live under daily by the very state that purports to offer safety to another set of people. Norman Finkelstein is very good on this.
I believe that some of our discussion should also consider the future of the land and the people. As someone brought up in a 'Protestant state for a Protestant people', I have an aversion to theocratic states. Further, I consider the concepts of democracy and theocracy contradictory. I believe that Edward Said's preferred solution, and addressed in 'A Common State', a film by Eyal Silvan, of one secular state, should be considered more often in debates.
Best wishes,
Cahal
Cahal McLaughlin
Professor of Film Studies,
School of Creative Arts,
Queens University Belfast
Room 003, First Floor,
21 University Square,
Belfast BT7 1NN
N. Ireland
00 44 2890973634
[log in to unmask]www.prisonsmemoryarchive.com
On 29 Jul 2014, at 22:12, Allen Feldman wrote:
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