Good Fences, Offensive Neighbours
There's just so much that can be done to protect against the unforeseeable. Events occur. They are unpredictable, like life. It seems impossible to achieve a balance. Moderation and acceptance are not easily accepted concepts in the Middle East. Passions run too high, and overrun reason. Reason itself is hidden deep in cramped crevices of the soul; not too often exposed to the light of possibility.Fences should make good neighbours, in ordinary circumstances. When unease and suspicions arise, separation works wonders. Out of sight, out of mind - or opportunity. Palestinians living within Israel, having special status, or recognized officially as Israeli citizens, hold that status dear. They enjoy the rights and opportunities they're afforded, unlike their counterparts in the West Bank and Gaza.
There are roughly 210,000 Palestinians within east Jerusalem living on the Israeli side. Enhanced employment opportunities are greatly appreciated, along with better health care and education. Living in uneasy harmony with Jews, as they have done for centuries. Now Israelis are increasingly asking themselves whether they can continue trusting their neighbours.
It was from east Jerusalem that the Palestinian gunman came from who launched his attack on the Jewish seminary in March, killing eight teen-age students, satisfying the passion of his hatred. And yet again, another attacker was launched from east Jerusalem, who in his fury, ran rampant with an industrial construction tractor through a crowded area of the city for the deliberate purpose of killing as many Jews as possible.
It took place on Jaffa Road, one of Jerusalem's main east-west corridors. With utter malice aforethought. Within a 275-metre area, a trail of rampant destruction was left, stopped only by an off-duty Israeli soldier who finally shot the man dead. Tally: three Israelis killed, 36 people seriously injured. A community in shock.
A construction vehicle with a front-mounted shovel which the attacker, a construction worker, used to repeatedly ram passenger-full buses and cars. "Terrorists keep finding new ways to attack us", said Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky. Yitzhak Noy, an Israeli radio reporter claimed to have made eye contact with the attacker: "...young, handsome. He looked cold and focused."
He was Hussam Duwayaat, 30 years old, father of two. His uncle reported to authorities that his nephew was divorced from a Jewish Israeli. He was a man well known to police, as a small-time criminal, mainly drug offences. No political affiliation. He may have gone independently berserk. He may have been supported and encouraged by a yet-unknown terror group.
His action, coupled with the earlier one in March may now be the propelling event to compel Israel to build another fence. Dividing the already-divided.
Labels: Israel, Societal Failures, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, July 03, 2008
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