Israeli Terror Against Families, Even Their Own

From Amnesty International:

"Israel/Occupied Territories: High Court decision institutionalizes
racial discrimination


The decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice on 14 May to uphold a
law which explicitly denies family rights on the basis of ethnicity or
national origins is a step further in the institutionalization of
racial discrimination in Israel.


The "Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law" bars family
reunification for Israelis married to Palestinians from the Occupied
Territories. It specifically targets Israeli Arabs (Palestinian
citizens of Israel), who make up a fifth of Israel's population, and
Palestinian Jerusalemites,(1) for it is they who marry Palestinians
from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.


Thousands of couples are affected by this discriminatory law, which
forces Israeli Arabs married to Palestinians to leave their country or
to be separated from their spouses and children. Israeli military law
forbids Israelis from entering the main population centres in the
Occupied Territories and Israeli citizens cannot join their Palestinian
spouses there, and at the same time Palestinian spouses staying in
Israel without a permit are constantly at risk of being deported and
separated from their families. Thus, Israeli-Palestinian couples would
ultimately be forced to move to another country in order to live
together - an option which is neither feasible nor desirable for
those concerned. In addition, Palestinian Jerusalemites would lose
their residency and their right "to ever live in Jerusalem again if
they move out of the city."

[MaggieL]

Kind of stretching to call this "terror", don'chathink?

Rank discrimination it may be...even inhumane. But terror? Somehow I don't think it rises to the "suicide bomber in the pizza shop" level, or even the "Hellfire from a Predator" level.

Cheapening the word terror has the effect of turning down the heat on those actually comitting terrorism.

[BigV]

You're right, of course, but too late. Quit counting at about 20 million.

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Kind of stretching to call this "terror", don'chathink?

Rank discrimination it may be...even inhumane. But terror? Somehow I don't think it rises to the "suicide bomber in the pizza shop" level, or even the "Hellfire from a Predator" level.

Cheapening the word terror has the effect of turning down the heat on those actually comitting terrorism.

Tell that to the families being torn apart.
We can say terrorize if you like... does that make you feel better?

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Tell that to the families being torn apart.
We can say terrorize if you like... does that make you feel better?

Not really...because the next thing you know we'll be told we're comitting terrorism by refusing to admit the families of illegal aliens. You can't simply call everything you don't like or find reprehensible "terrorism". "violence (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands"

We're back to playing the "moral equivalance" game...

[BigV]

It's a very...versatile word.

[xoxoxoBruce]

And sometimes make about as much sense.

Israel is intentionally destroying families and you want to toy with semantics?
Typical.

[MaggieL]

Words have meanings, and semantics is important. Otherwise you wouldn't be trying to use semantics as a political tool yourself.

By calling Israeli immigration policy "terror", you attempt to create a moral equivalance between their attempts to defend themselves, and the genuine terrorism they are trying to protect themselves from. You can agree that this particular effort is justified, or not...but calling it "terror" cheapens the word. Being separated from your spouse is terrible. Wondering every second if the bus you're riding in is about to be shredded by thirty pounds of C4 and two thousand steel nails is terror.

Calling this policy "terror" is a propiganda technique, pure and simple. To dismiss criticism of it as "semantics" is disingenuous.

"The slovenliness of our language enables us to have foolish thoughts." --Orwell

[Undertoad]

So, rk, are you in favor of the Right of Return for Palestinians?

Originally Posted by Undertoad

So, rk, are you in favor of the Right of Return for Palestinians?

How do you get that from this thread?
I do not think that people should have been forcibly removed from their homes back in the 40's, no.
But, at this point, I think that is moot... however, concessions must be made and reparations are deserved.
Do I think I would feel like they if I were in their position, yes... I do.
Do I hope I would not be using their tactics... yes, I hope that, but no one is killing my kids from a helicopter or tank and all I have are rocks to throw at them.
After that happening for a while, a LONG while, I can see thinking that they need to know how it feels.
Does that justify it, no... but it also makes it a hell of a lot more than just what the Taliban does.
Palestine needs to have far more consideration than it is being given.
As for this law, it has nothing to do with their being given all of their land back, it has to do with families being allowed to stay together & it is simply legislated racist terror. It is no different than the Jim Crow laws of the Reconstruction.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

it is simply legislated racist terror

We could argue about "racist". "Terror" is unwarranted, and robs your position of credibility.

[Undertoad]

I'm just trying to figure out where you're coming from.

Did you know... that the ruling doesn't apply to women over 25 and men over 35?

Did you know... that the ruling was made in 2002 when Palestinians were in a declared state of war with Israel and many of the entering Palestinians were blowing themselves up in crowded busses and cafes?

Did you know... that an Israeli is not permitted entry at ALL into most Arab states, never mind to marry someone they love?

Did you know... that if you have merely VISITED Israel, you yourself would not be permitted entry at all into most Arab states, never mind to marry someone you love?

Did you know... that Amnesty International has become a relentlessly political organization that selectively ignores torture when it will get them higher donation totals from their donor base?

The More You Know.

[MaggieL]

Some insight into why the seemingly ubiquitous charges of "racism" are losing legitimacy. Is the word "terror" the next to be neutered though abuse?

[Ibby]

Great, now I'm hooked on Sinfest. Been reading for about five straight hours, and I'm only to Feb. '02... I'll have to finish tomorrow, I need sleeeeeep.