Essay Example: Terrorism in Israel and Algeria

Terrorism as part of a successful campaign for the establishment of Israel and Algerian states through de-colonization processes

An intrinsic look into Israel and Algeria reveals an important fact that terrorism played a crucial part in the formation of a successful campaign that led to the establishment of the two states through a process of decolonization. On the other hand, it can also be noted that terrorism can as well be terribly counter-productive. For instance, Lehi's violence in Israel alienated many Jews rather than inspiring them and in Algeria; FLN terrorism was not only used against Algerians but also provoked a horrific response in form of OAS terrorism. This prompts some questioning: would the FLN in Algeria have been successful without using terrorism? This is to say, did the benefits of terrorism in terms of mobilizing the community outweigh the costs, making it effective and successful, or was it an effective but unsuccessful distraction?

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This is applicable to the Zionist terror in relation to the formation of Israel which leads to the questioning if the violence of Irgun and Lehi helped or hindered the efforts of the mainstream Jewish Council and Haganah? This paper, therefore, applies this question to both cases under scrutiny: For Jewish (Irgun and Lehi) and Algerian (FLN) groups. Was the use of terrorism a necessary part of the broader political struggle to establish a state, or was it counter-productive relative to the larger political and military struggles for national liberation? (Nossek, Hillel, Annabelle Sreberny, and Prasun Sonwalkar, 177)

Terrorism was a necessary part of the struggle for the establishment of Israel and Algerian states

Terrorism as commonly understood is never justifiable and is considered morally wrong. In the context of just-war moral theory and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, both Israel and the Palestinians have resorted to terrorism at various times in the course of their long conflict as a last resort or the availability of alternatives to terrorism to reach a just cause. It is notable that through terrorism comes the realization of a just cause.

Terrorism as part of the political struggle for the liberation of Israel and Algeria

It is clear that terrorism played a significant role in the process of decolonization of both Israel and Algeria in the sense that the formation of political fronts and factions prompted the exit of the colonialism. In Israel for instance, the Jewish struggle (Irgun and Lehi) through the formation of terror groups like the Zionists was the motivation behind the beginning of Jewish terrorism which in return championed for the end of colonialism. At the tail end of it all, it bore fruits since decolonization was achieved through the same and this can be owed to terrorism and the activities therein that led to the achievement of the same. For instance, towards the end of the Ottoman rule which to a larger extent was impulsive, repulsive and was dominated with violence, the Jewish militia led by Bar-Giora and Hashomer retaliated with equal measures of violence in self-defense to protect their settlements from attack by their Arab neighbors. This, in essence, was a necessary measure to protect the communities (Kennedy-Pipe, Caroline, Gordon Clubb, Simon Mabon, and Alex P. Schmid, 65)

The Algerian (FLN) groups are also known to have employed the use of terrorism as a weapon and a necessary part of the broader political struggle to establish their state. This came after nearly all the nationalist groups decided to join FLN. The group had earlier on an enacted war that launched the campaign against the authoritarian regimes (Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955-1957). The same group is also responsible for enacting leaders that took the leadership roles that steered the country towards liberation. It was through their activities that led to larger political and military struggles for with the major aim of national liberation, an agenda that was finally achieved.

Terrorism as counter-productive

With reference to Israel, the Jewish struggle is responsible for the Jewish terrorism in the sense that the previous culminated into the later with the Jewish struggle being the motivation behind the terrorism in the name of protecting their communities from outside attacks. Israeli-Palestinian war towards the end of the nineteenth century marked the birth of a new political violence between the two countries. My central argument, therefore, is that, contrary to the good that has resulted out of terrorism, especially in Israel, Israeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians. Of great importance is ascertaining historical origin that has led to the modern-day terrorism. Secondly, the truth might make Israelis less blind to their own behavior and therefore less intransigent in seeking a compromise settlement of their conflict with the Palestinians. In particular, the truth should make it clear that Israel has neither the moral legitimacy nor the national interest to refuse to negotiate with Palestinian organizations that have employed terrorism, particularly Hamas, without whose participation there is no sign of ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Aussaresses, Paul, and Robert Miller, 301)

Conclusion

Terrorism, as envisaged in this paper, is seen to be of great importance in the liberation and establishment of the two states; Israel and Algeria. It played a crucial role in the realization of the two states. On the contrary, it can also be viewed negatively in the sense that it led to the formation of current terrorism and wars that are witnessed to date. However, despite the shortcomings of terrorism, it is evident that it played a significant role in the decolonization process of both Israel and Algeria.

References

Nossek, Hillel, Annabelle Sreberny, and Prasun Sonwalkar. Media and Political Violence. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2007. Print.

Kennedy-Pipe, Caroline, Gordon Clubb, Simon Mabon, and Alex P. Schmid. Terrorism and Political Violence. , 2015. Print.

Aussaresses, Paul, and Robert L. Miller. The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955-1957. New York: Enigma Books, 2010. Print.