am writing regarding the 13 April Letter to the Editor by Greg Collins.
I understand the inclusion of letters that bring to people’s attention issues directly related to the university, but I question whether it is justified to include ideological rants without at least printing an alternative viewpoint as well.
I also contest the truth of Collins’ political diatribe. One problem I have is with Collin’s statement: “Hamas terrorists.” I find Collins’ statement “Hamas terrorists” both provocative and misleading, for is Hamas the sole, or even main source of “terror” in the Israeli-Palestinian context? No. Can not Israeli air raids, roadblocks, raids, bulldozing of houses, be termed “terrorism?”
Collin’s role reversal between Israel and the Palestinians is very troubling, and an example of this is that Palestinian violence is termed “terrorism,” while any Israeli violence is a “military response.” It is hardly realistic to paint the largest military power in the ME as the victim. Also, who says that the “relative lull in violence this past month” was due to Hamas refraining from attacks, and not because the Israelis largely refrained from attacks? If Israel was the victim, being terrorized by Hamas, why hasn’t Israel accepted any of the ceasefires which Hamas has offered? Does this show that Israel is the victim and not the aggressor? Or does this show that Hamas isn’t doing the only logical thing, i.e. resisting aggression?
Collins also maintains that if “Hamas immediately lays down its arms,” then the Israelis will be willing to negotiate with the Palestinians and would lift the blockade on Gaza. Such simple reasoning should always make one question the validity of what is being claimed. Who says that Israel would do this? Who says that if the Palestinians stopped resisting, Israel wouldn’t reoccupy Gaza and tighten its hand in the West Bank? Furthermore, what evidence have we seen that Israel wants peace? None, and a simple example of this might be its continual military operations, and its ever-expanding settlements.
I think that what both Collins, the Americans, and the Israelis need to understand is that Hamas, like Hizballah, is defending the rights of its people. They should also realize that collective punishment doesn’t work, but only results in more death and suffering, and one need only look to the US-engineered sanctions on Iraq after the Gulf War, which killed thousands of Iraqi civilians, to see this.
Vincenzo Terranova
900071658
Political Science
2011