Terrorism dominates political debate and media coverage in Australia despite causing relatively few deaths. The deeper causes – western military violence, state power, and selective moral language – are rarely examined.

We have been flooded for weeks by our legacy media about terrorism and the Bondi killings.

In the decade to 2024 there were only an estimated 11 to 17 fatalities resulting from terrorism. In the same decade one woman was killed almost every week due to domestic violence. From 2001 to 2018 at least 293 deaths were the result of extreme heat. These climate related deaths will increase significantly. Many more die on Australian roads and from suicide and alcohol.

Yet we freak out over terrorism.

The word terrorism is probably the most abused word in our lexicon. It’s an easy word for lazy journalists. It is applied to organisations the west does not like or won’t do what they are told. Even Nelson Mandela was on the US terrorist list for over 10 years.

Terrorism is only applied to non-state actors. Hamas is a terrorist organisation but not Israel that has killed multiples more people than Hamas.

The earliest terrorists in Palestine were Zionist leaders who later became Prime Ministers.

Menachem Begin led the Irgun terrorist group before 1948. He later became the first right-wing prime minister of Israel in 1977.

Yitzhak Shamir, described by the British as a “fanatical terrorist leader,” was a member of the Stern Gang (Lehi) in the 1940s and served as Israel’s prime minister twice, from 1983–1984 and 1986–1992.

David Ben-Gurion was head of the Jewish Agency and oversaw the Haganah, which was implicated in violent terrorist actions. He later became Israel’s first prime minister.

These individuals were part of the transition from underground terrorist groups to the formal Israeli political establishment, with their organisations often evolving into political parties like Herut, which later became part of Likud.

Following the establishment of Israel, the Haganah was the base upon which was built the IDF. Perhaps IOA, the Israel Occupying Army would be more appropriate. Many of its leaders took part in leading that army as well as occupying political posts in successive Israeli governments. The terrorists became state........

© Pearls and Irritations