From: Ali Abunimah
To: morning@npr.org
Subject: Whose terrorism?

May 24, 2001

Linda Gradstein reported during the 8 AM Eastern news bulletin that on the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Israeli forces are on alert for "possible terrorist attacks that had been threatened by Hizbullah guerillas."

As far as I am aware, Hizbullah has said it reserves the right to carry out further attacks against on-duty combatant Israeli military personnel in the Shabaa farms area of the Lebanese-Syrian border, which is still illegally occupied by Israel. Hizbullah, as Gradstein is fully aware, has been scrupulous about directing its attacks against combatant military forces, and avoiding civilians, unless it is in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Lebanese civilians.

By whose definition are attacks directed at active occupation troops "terrorist" attacks? It is time NPR reviewed its use of this political term.

Sincerely,

Ali Abunimah
http://www.abunimah.org