Israel responsible for massacre
Barukh Goldstein walked into the Tomb of the Patriarchs mosque in Hebron on February 25 and mercilessly gunned down 54 worshippers, young and old alike. In doing so, Goldstein exposed not only his own burning hatred but the impossible position the Palestinian people face in the occupied territories.
Daily Israeli troops shoot and kill those who protest against their continuing oppression with sticks and stones. The 130,000 heavily armed settlers have killed Palestinians in the past with impunity, often attaining hero status for their murderous actions. Now, in Israel as in South Africa, as the government drags out negotiations for minimal self-rule for Palestinians in restricted areas of their homeland, the political violence begins to escalate.
In the face of this, the government of Yitzhak Rabin proposes only to consider outlawing Kach, the political gang to which Goldstein belonged, and the disarming of some 43 Israelis.
In the face of the massacre and the inadequate response from the Rabin regime, the Palestine Liberation Organisation has called off negotiations with the Israeli government. For the peace talks to resume, the PLO is demanding that Israeli settlers be disarmed and the most hardline, political and ideological settlements be dismantled or realigned. Israel rejects this.
As a further measure to protect the lives of Palestinians, the PLO is calling for an international peacekeeping force to be deployed in Jericho and the Gaza Strip. Clearly Israel cannot or will not protect the Palestinian communities in those areas and should withdraw.
Long-standing resolutions of the United Nations demand that Israel withdraw from the occupied territories. The PLO's demands are consistent with this international position and should be acceded to immediately.
Following this, the process towards self-government must be rapidly concluded. Any more prevarication by Israel will be measured in the further loss of Palestinian lives.
Responsibility for the Hebron massacre, as well as the many Palestinian deaths in the days since, lies squarely with the Israeli government.