David Bar-Illan

In the following viewpoint, David Bar-Illan contends that the policies and rhetoric of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, particularly its leader Yasir Arafat, motivate Middle East terrorists such as Hamas. Bar-Illan maintains that Arafat’s actions, such as sheltering terrorists and lionizing martyred terrorists in speeches, encourages further violence against Israel. However, he asserts, these actions and misleading statements by Arafat have been overlooked by Israel’s government (then led by Shimon Peres) and the Clinton administration. Bar-Illan is a senior advisor for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Bar-Illan, how is Arafat different from other sponsors of terrorism?
2. What group did Arafat blame for the February 1996 bus bombings, according to the author?
3. In Bar-Illan’s opinion, what did the March 1996 State Department report on the Oslo accords...