Palestinians appalled by the suicide bombing in Jordan — because it killed Muslims. This is yet another manifestation of Islam’s sharp distinction between believers and unbelievers; Palestinian Arabs have for years glorified as heroes those who carried out suicide attacks against Israeli civilians. But against Muslims! That’s going too far!
This story does contain a suggestion that now — now — Palestinians will start thinking differently about attacks on Jewish civilians. Can a traumatic event really bring about a change in one’s guiding philosophy? I hope so. But I won’t be holding my breath.
“Jordan Attacks Claim 17 From One Family,” from AP, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
SILET AL-THAHER, West Bank – In this Palestinian village, the Akhras clan mourned 17 relatives killed by a suicide bomber in Jordan “” the first time Palestinians have been a target in a suicide attack.
“Oh my God, oh my God. Is it possible that Arabs are killing Arabs, Muslims killing Muslims?” asked a weeping Najah Akhras, 35, who lost two nieces.
Similar thoughts were heard over and over in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Thursday, as Palestinians expressed outrage over suicide attacks aimed at civilians….
For more than five years, Palestinian militants have carried out dozens of suicide bombings in Israel, killing hundreds of people, often with wide support from a public that believed the attacks were a justified response to Israeli military rule.
But the mood has changed in recent months following a cease-fire with Israel, and the attacks in Amman could further sway public opinion against suicide bombings.
“Palestinians have tasted the blind violence that does not differentiate between people “” children, women, wedding parties, ordinary people,” said Palestinian newspaper commentator Hani al-Masri.
“I expect now a significant change in the Palestinian political culture,” he said. “For sure, this attack will push Palestinians to reconsider this way of suicide bombings, and I think it would reduce support for attacks that kill people without any differentiation.”…
At a small mosque in Gaza City, worshippers asked God to send the souls of the Amman victims to heaven and to prevent the attackers from harming the image of Islam.
“I oppose killing Jewish civilians,” said Radwan Abu Ali, a 22-year-old university student in Gaza City. “They could go and fight American soldiers. They could come to Palestine to fight Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. But to kill innocents, there is nothing to describe them but criminals and the enemy of God.”
Are they really worried about the image of Islam? Then let them not just curse Zarqawi. Let them act, let them do everything they can, to eradicate his ideology from the Islamic world.