I welcome Hillel Neuer's article Human Bombs, Human Shields which appeared today at TNR Online.
He says more or less the same thing that I said in my essay from a few weeks ago, Human Shields for Palestine
i.e. members of the world community who want to end the violence should go to Israel and circulate among Israelis and either prevent the terror attacks or grow to understand the necessity that Israel must act in its self-defense.
My piece argues that the presence in Israel of western friends of Palestine would deter terrorism, and eventually lead to a Palestinian state and peace.
Should this optimism be considered realistic or ironic? You be the judge.
In any event, I hope that the idea of foreign observers going to Israel to serve as human shields against terrorism, will continue to gain momentum.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 05, 2002 04:15 PMI actually think that is a good idea, and in the West Bank as well. When the IDF then uses a civilian as a human shield for its operations, perhaps they'll snag someone other than a Palestinian. As I am in favor of security for Israel, I am also in favor for security of the Palestinians against the IDF.
"... it is the duty of the [Israeli] leadership to explain to the public a number of truths. One truth is that there is no Zionism, no settlement, and no Jewish state without evacuating Arabs, and without expropriating lands and their fencing off."
Yesha'ayahu Ben-Porat, (Yedi'ot Aharonot 07/14/1972) responding to public controversy regarding the Israeli evictions of Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, in 1972.