Tale of two terrors

Under Israeli law, families of the victims of terrorism are entitled to financial compensation from the government.

Yet when four Arab Israelis were killed by a Jewish extremist recently, the families were not offered the same compensation given to victims of Arab or Palestinian terrorism because, as the law says, only victims of attacks by "enemies of Israel" are entitled.

Doug Ireland writes:
"An Israeli Arab member of parliament, Muhammad Barak, said there was a strong scent of racism about the decision, because it distinguished between Jewish terrorism and Arab terrorism. He has submitted an amendment to allow Israel to compensate anyone hurt in 'hostile activities by a terror organization' -- not just those hurt by 'organisations hostile to Israel.'"

And that's surely a just and overdue amendment. But in a deeper sense, it would behoove Israel to begin to see acts of terrorism by its own citizens (including reckless and sometimes premeditated killings by its military) as "hostile to Israel." Hostile to its future security as a nation. Hostile to the security of its citizens. That is long overdue as well. (Direland)