Gary Fitleberg, December 1, 2004

A U.N.-commissioned report recommends condemning terrorism even in national resistance struggles.

The report, commissioned by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as part of a possible restructuring of the international body, suggests defining terrorism as an act "that is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians" in order to intimidate a population or affect a government or international organizations.

In a sentence believed to be directed to the Arab-Israeli situation, the report stated, "There is nothing in the fact of occupation that justifies the targeting and killing of civilians." Israeli officials say they're pleased the report addressed terrorism.

Egypt and Jordan "occupied" Israel and the Jewish peoples disputed territories of Gaza, Judea and Samaria (wrongfully called "West Bank") for nineteen years from 1948-1967 which it conquered through an aggressive war against Israel with the intent to annihilate the only beacon of democracy and freedom and Jewish nation state in the very bad neighborhood of corrupt dictators, human rights violators, ruthless repressive regimes, and tyrannies of the Middle East.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg