Something is really off when everyone from CNN (look down to the World section) to the news on the AOL homepage (see the Top News) describe the attack on public bus in Jerusalem as the work of a “terrorist”, using quotes because of their apparent discomfort with calling this an act of terror and labeling this murderer, a terrorist. If that is not terror, what is? And yes, I already imagine the litany of description of Israeli military activity that this question invites. And I have no interest in that debate right now. I want to understand why, even for those who would make such counter charges about Israel, what this man did is not terror.
And the BBC is even worse. Check out the clip that they posted as the news broke, and you will see something disgusting. Not disgusting because of blood and guts, which are happily not to be seen (even this murderer has a family and the pain that they will feel at his loss, should shape the images the press will use). It’s because of their choice to open their video coverage with the smiling face of a bearded skull cap-wearing man with a pistol. They have zero coverage of the damage done, and like all the press this morning, are placing quote marks around the word terrorist when describing the driver who rolled the bus and killed at least three civilians.
I am the last to cry “anti-Semites”, and am not even doing so now. But something here is very wrong and I hope you think so too, whatever your politics may be.