Outrage has erupted recently over the killing of a lion in Zimbabwe by an American dentist. The sad tale certainly deserves to be brought to the public’s attention, as a case of completely unjustified violence against an innocent creature, and flagrant disregard for accepted norms and laws.
Meanwhile, the murder of a Palestinian infant by Israeli settlers - who callously decided to burn the boy’s home to the ground - is receiving much less notice. There have been statements of condemnation and promises of arrests, but few expect that justice will be done.
The phenomenon of “price tag attacks” by fundamentalist settlers has grown steadily over recent years, but only a tiny minority of the culprits are caught, tried and convicted. They have destroyed people’s lives and property; they want to eradicate the presence of Palestinian people in their own homeland; they have spewed the most hateful venom against Christianity and Islam; and they are present illegally on the land of others. Most importantly, their entire ethos is backed by influential Israeli politicians, parties and the laws and regulations in force in Israel, which can be counted to justify crimes in the name of “the land of Israel.”
For decades, the international community has coddled and supported Israel and done nearly everything possible to blame Palestinian victims for their plight. It tolerates stealing people’s land and then feigns outrage when the criminals act based on their core beliefs.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of divergence in the two cases is that Cecil the lion already has a Wikipedia page dedicated to him; it appears that the toddler - Ali Dawabshe - will receive no such international tribute to his memory.
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