Since 7 October 2023 there has been a growth of the use of the allegation of terrorism for propaganda purposes.

When one stands back and considers who is, or are, the principal users of this allegation, it is apparent that the State of Israel, organs of that state, or just its defenders, have fallen into the habit of labelling anyone who they see as supporting the Palestinian cause as terrorists.

Thus, we hear that any resistors of settlements within the West Bank or anyone associated in any way with the Palestinian Government in Gaza, i.e. any functionary or supporter of Hamas, is a terrorist. That suggestion needs to be considered critically.

Let’s start with the dictionary definition of “terrorism”. Collins describes a terrorist as “a person who uses violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve political aims”. Such a definition is immediately controversial. Is it confined to “a person”? Both State and non-state actors have been cast as terrorists. There is a lack of consistency and clarity. This is apparent from another controversy: the adage that, “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”.

On the issue of whether there can be state-sponsored terrorism, it may come down to usage. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has no doubt. On 29 August last he said: “Israel’s reckless........

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