A History Lesson

Some call it a cycle of violence, but now that Sheik Yassin is dead, let's take a look at the origins of the Palestinian suicide bomber and see how it fits into the "cycle of violence".

The first suicide bombing, killing 8 people, was orchestrated by Hamas in the city of Afula on April 6, 1994. Per a BBC report, Hamas said it carried out the attack in response to the killing of 29 praying Muslims in February of that year by West Bank settler Baruch Goldstein.

(For reference purposes, here's a complete list of suicide bombings beginning with the attack in Afula).

So, the original suicide bombing was in response to the act of a lone individual who was roundly condemned by everyone in the Israeli government and Israeli society in general. But if for some reason you are of the opinion that these are just words, token measures that do not lessen the justification for a revenge attack, read the following from the U.N. investigation into the incident and it's aftermath. Not only was there condemnation, there were investigations, REPARATIONS, the introduction of an international force to protect the Arab residents of Hebron among other things.

It's long, but it's worth it.

Steps taken by the Israeli authorities


1. The Knesset and the Israeli Government as a whole unequivocally denounced the massacre. It was condemned by leading figures in Israel, among them President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yizhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Chief Rabbis Eliahy Bakshi Doron and Yisrael Meir Lau.

2. A Government decision was passed to ensure compensation to the families of the victims.

3. The Cabinet decided, given the extraordinary circumstances involved, to establish a commission of inquiry regarding the massacre (Cabinet communiqué, 27 February 1994). This was an independent commission, established in accordance with the Commissions of Inquiry Law of 1968. The commission was chaired by the President of the Israel Supreme Court and comprised five members, Jewish and Arab, at the highest level. The commission held 31 sessions and heard evidence from 106 witnesses. It also engaged in a thorough examination of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and the surrounding area.

4. After the publication of the commission's report, the Government held a special meeting in which it decided to adopt the report and take upon itself to act in accordance with its recommendations. The Cabinet asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to bring proposals for the implementation of these recommendations before it as soon as possible and decided to hold a detailed discussion of the report once the proposals had been submitted. Methods of implementation of the commission's findings are currently being explored by all the competent authorities.

5. Furthermore, at its meeting of 27 February 1994, the Cabinet decided to take the following measures against radical elements among the Israeli residents in the West Bank:

(a) The issue of administrative detention orders against those who instigate or by their actions present a danger to public security;

(b) The extension of restraining and supervisory orders against the entry of certain persons suspected of instigation into the Judea, Samaria and Hebron areas; and

(c) The disarming of specific individuals suspected of using weapons for purposes other than self-defence and the cancellation of their permits to carry weapons.

6. It was further decided to authorize the Attorney-General to prepare the legal basis for the outlawing of the extremist Jewish organizations "Kach" and "Kahana Chai". Accordingly, at its weekly meeting on 13 March 1994, the Cabinet declared the above-mentioned movements to be terrorist organizations, as well as any other groups acting to achieve similar aims by similar means, even if they bore different names or designations. This declaration also applied to factions or groups attached to the above-mentioned organizations.

7. The Government also reaffirmed its commitment to promote maximum security for all residents, to exercise its full authority to prevent a repetition of any acts of murder, and to continue to act to prevent harm to Jews and Arabs. The IDF and security forces have been directed to act accordingly.

8. In addition to the above-mentioned steps, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 904, it was agreed between Israel and the Palestinians, in an agreement signed at Cairo on 31 March 1994, that in response to the unique situation created in Hebron in the aftermath of the massacre, a temporary international presence would be established in the city of Hebron ("TIPH"). This temporary presence, consisting of representatives from Norway, Denmark and Italy, has assisted in promoting stability and in monitoring and reporting the efforts in the city of Hebron, and has contributed to a feeling of security among Palestinians in the city of Hebron

Would that the Palestinian Authority take these measures after each of the suicide bombings in the list I provide above.

It should be noted that in the 10 years since, despite the presence of several hundred thousand "radical right wing settlers" living in the West Bank and Gaza, there has never been an act like this again. And I hope there never will be.

In summary, Hamas turned a terrible tragedy into an excuse for action against Israeli civilians despite all efforts to redress the situation by the Israeli government which wasn't responsible for the massacre in the first place.