INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM HEARINGS BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE NEAR EAST AND SOUTH ASIA, 93RD CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, JUNE 11, 18, 19 AND 24, 1974 - SEE NCJ-63559)

• NCJ Number: 63562
• Author(s): R FALK
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A 'LAW AND ORDER' APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IS EVALUATED, AND U.S. POLICY IS APPRAISED IN THIS PRESENTATION FROM A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON TERRORISM.

Abstract

BECAUSE MOST TERRORISTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ADOPT A DESPERATE VIEW OF THEIR SITUATION, RUTHLESS AND LARGE-SCALE RESPONSES TO TERRORIST ACTIVITY WILL PROBABLY BE INEFFECTIVE. REFLECTING THIS LAW AND ORDER APPROACH, ISRAELI TACTICS ARE DESIGNED TO WEAKEN THE LINKS BETWEEN THE PALESTINIAN MASSES AND THE TERRORIST CADRES, TO REASSURE THE ISRAELI POPULATION THAT THE PALESTINIANS WILL SUFFER FROM THEIR ACTS, AND TO ENCOURAGE MODERATE PALESTINIANS TO COUNSEL OTHERS AGAINST TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. THIS POLICY IS UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED UNLESS ISRAEL MANAGES TO BARGAIN WITH ARAB GOVERNMENTS AND THEREBY PREVENT THE USE OF ARAB TERRITORY AS A TERRORIST BASE OF OPERATIONS. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS APPROACH IS AN ACCOMMODATION ORIENTATION. BOTH SIDES SHOULD INSIST ON COMPROMISE, PREMISED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE GENUINE, SUBSTANTIAL GRIEVANCES DESERVING CONSTRUCTIVE RESOLUTION IN THE FORM OF NATIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION. U.S. POLICY SHOULD SEEK TO RECONCILE THE GOALS OF PREVENTING TERRORISM WITH THOSE OF SATISFYING THE LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES OF THE TERRORISTS. SOME STEPS FOR THE U.S. INCLUDE EVALUATING THE GRIEVANCES HELD BY TERRORIST GROUPS, PROTECTING CIVILIANS FROM STATE AND TERRORIST ACTION, AND ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TO PROSECUTE TERRORISTS AND COUNTERTERRORISTS. (WJR)