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December 02, 2005
Orla Guerin Exposes Anti-Jewish Hatred—But Does She Pay Attention?
BBC's Orla Guerin has witnessed the anti-Jewish hatred held by some Palestinians—but it doesn't seem to register.
In a Dec. 1 broadcast, she recalled the words of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy:
"From a long time back my feelings towards Jews are feelings of hatred," he said.
"What I want to do most is kill Jews. It's in my blood. Ever since I was a child I have dreamed of this."
One might think that after hearing such bigotry, Guerin would conclude indoctrinated hatred is one of the central causes of Palestinian terrorism.
Apparently not. Later in the broadcast, she argued that "This fight is not about religion, or ideology, or race." It is simply about real estate, Guerin claims, and about a Palestinian state. (She apparently has forgotten about the real estate and the Palestinian state offered by Israel but rejected by Arafat shortly before he provoked the second intifada.)
Despite reporting on the expressions of anti-Jewish hatred, her harsh words appear to be reserved for Israel alone—specifically, the country's measures to protect itself:
Just after the Israeli checkpoint, there is a new scar on the landscape, a towering wall snaking along the edge of town.
This is Israel's West Bank barrier, supposed to block suicide bombers, but making a virtual prisoner of the entire town.
But she is wrong about this "scar." It does not make a "virtual prisoner" of all of Bethlehem. It simply prevents unfettered access of Palestinians into Israel (thus reducing deadly terrorism). As a map of the barrier route reveals, it does not affect movement of people between Bethlehem and the remainder of the West Bank:
Posted by GI at December 2, 2005 11:00 AM
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