The True Litmus Test For Abbas: Support Just Punishment of Terrorists

...The true “litmus test” is if the Palestinian official endorses this simple and straightforward policy: that the perpetrators of acts of violence against Israelis will henceforth be punished rather than praised. That instead of pressing for their release, the Palestinian Authority will do everything in its power to insure that these criminals pay their debt to society.

Dr. Aaron Lerner..
IMRA Weekly Commentary..
06 April '16..

Here's a call to journalists, politicians, diplomats, activists and others who are going to be meeting with a Palestinian official and hoping to get a useful remark from them.

Let's get back to the very basics.

Let's drop the word games.

There is a simple, straightforward and clear “litmus test” for any Palestinian official:


+ It isn’t if he condemns an attack: there’s simply too many ways for the wording or the other messages around it to make any condemnation a nothing more than a cynical farce.

+ It isn’t if he opposes or even engages in “incitement”: while “incitement” should not be ignored, focusing on “incitement” inevitably gets us sucked into a debate over just what is “incitement” and charges from the other side of Israeli “incitement”.

The true “litmus test” is if the Palestinian official endorses this simple and straightforward policy: that the perpetrators of acts of violence against Israelis will henceforth be punished rather than praised. That instead of pressing for their release, the Palestinian Authority will do everything in its power to insure that these criminals pay their debt to society.

Link: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=70423
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis - Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

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