The New Canon vs. the New Heterodoxy

June 25, 2002

by Steven Plaut

As you know, the new canon emerging is that Palestinians perpetrate suicide bombings and similar mass murders because they are so desperate, their plight so hopeless, the suffering so great. It is what we hear nonstop from the Cherie Blairs, the Ted Turners, the Eurocrats, and the Israeli Left with its captive universities and media.

So to clear things up we thought we would present the New Canon and the New Heterodoxy. They go like this:

NEW CANON: The wave of Palestinians suicide bombings is a reflection of the fact that Israel has taken away all Palestinian hope. Israel has brought these murders on itself by its policy of blocking and denying Palestinian aspirations and ambitions. The violence is simply a reflection of Palestinian desperation and frustration at the chance that they will be unable to realize their dreams. The key to stopping the suicide murders is to grant hope to the Palestinians.

Israel brought the violence on itself by its refusal to expel Jewish settlers and its signaling that it would not end the occupation.

Palestinian violence is caused by Israel killing Palestinian terrorist leaders.

The upsurge in world anti-Semitism is a reaction to Israeli brutality and obstinacy.

If Israel would just remove itself altogether from the "occupied territories," tensions would decrease and peace eventually break out.

Israel cannot have security nor survive for long unless it jettisons the "occupied territories."

Allowing the Palestinians to run their own lives will enhance Israeli security.

If the Palestinians have their own state, peace will be eventually achieved at last.

The violence is a reflection of the fact that Israel occupies Palestinian lands.

Those Israelis who endorse immediate removal of all Jews from the West Bank and Gaza are true patriots who seek peace.

NEW HETERODOXY: The wave of Palestinians suicide bombings is a reflection of the fact that Israel has granted the Palestinian hope - the hope that they will really be able to destroy Israel. Israel has brought these murders on itself by its policy of encouraging and coddling Palestinian aspirations and ambitions. The violence is simply a reflection of Palestinian excitement and ambition at the chance that they will be able to realize their hopes and dreams, that is, their dreams of destroying Israel and driving the Jews into the sea. The key to stopping the suicide murders is to take hope away from the Palestinians.

Israel brought the violence on itself by its offers to expel Jewish settlers and its signaling that it was willing and anxious to end the occupation.

Palestinian violence is caused be Israel not killing Palestinian leaders.

The upsurge in world anti-Semitism is a reaction to Israeli weakness, defeatism, and timidity.

If Israel would just remove itself altogether from the "occupied territories," violence would escalate and total war would eventually break out.

Israel cannot have security nor survive for long unless it re-occupies and denazifies the "occupied territories."

Allowing the Palestinians to run their own lives will produce endless mass murders of Jews.

If the Palestinians have their own state, a new genocide of Jews will eventually be achieved at last.

The violence is a reflection of the fact that the PLO occupies Jewish lands.

Those Israelis who endorse immediate removal of all Jews from the West Bank and Gaza are true traitors who seek the destruction of their own country.