Israelis Propose Laws To Punish Terrorists' Families
Morning Edition, July 10, 2008 · Following last week's bulldozer rampage in Jerusalem, some Israeli politicians want to pass laws that penalize families of people who launch attacks. That would mean revoking health insurance and unemployment benefits for Arab residents of East Jerusalem. While some Jewish lawmakers say it's necessary for Israel to toughen laws, critics say the proposals are about revenge.
This is seriously repugnant. This summary doesn't explicitly mention it, but if you listen to the story one of the proposals is that the family homes of terrorists would be demolished. I mean, come the fuck on. This is even more repugnant when you consider that extended families often occupy the same home--grandparents, cousins, etc. Collective punishment is certainly the policy of the Israeli regime, but this is another step all together. Could we imagine a US law that would bulldoze the homes of the families of anyone who committed a murder? I also can't find how this would be productive at all. It would seem to only increase the likelihood that a punished third party would then turn to violence against Israel. Ughh...
Take a listen to the story. I could only get the brief summary from the NPR webpage.
1 comment:
I guess I understand the reasoning, if not the lack of moral and ethical imperative or sense of justice... But when most Palestinian families live in poverty anyway, does forcing a family to move from one shit hole slum to another and destroying what few belongings they have (an inconvenience, to be sure) really do anything other than stir up resentment, and plant the seeds for further attacks anyway?
It just seems like such a short sighted policy that, instead of disuading suicide bombers and terrorists, simply reinforces their cause, and Israel's image as an oppressor.
So moral reasons aside, it logically just doesn't make much sense.
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