>Well, the last two, esp (d), aren't happening;
>(a) (b) and (c) is happening, and it's happening
>on both sides (though the Palestinians don't have
>the firepower of the Israelis). Bulldozing houses
>and blowing up commuter busses are brutal, awful,
>criminal things -- but "genocide"? Well, if it
>makes the LBOers feel more confident in their take
>on matters Israeli, then go with it. Wouldn't want
>to kill the buzz that comes with the claim.
Actually, I think it's pretty important not to refer to what's happening in the occupied territories as genocide. Horrible, brutal -- yes. Genocide -- no.
It's true you could maybe call it genocide under the Genocide Convention terms, but they are so absurdly broad and vague that, as Dennis points out, you could also call the Palestinian actions genocide. Israel's actions are definitely NOT genocide according to my dictionary's definition -- "the systematic, planned annihilation of a racial, political or cultural group" -- which is, after all, the meaning with which almost everyone employs the term.
It's true there are worrying signs in Israeli politics, such as high profile references to Palestinians as insects to be exterminated, a cancer to be excised, etc. -- that is, the types of references which have always set the stage for ethnic cleansing and genocide in other places and times. But to call the present circumstances genocide is a pretty serious abuse of language. Moreover, beyond being inaccurate, it's tactically unwise, since it (1) turns off people who might otherwise be allies, and (2) will make some people dismiss accurate accounts of the genuinely awful things that are happening as just more hyperbole.
On another subject, sort of, I found these sentences from the linked Paul Kennedy article (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-020407maelstrom3.story) to be particularly charming:
"Already the suicide bombers have altered the casualty rates from about 15 Palestinians to 1 Israeli dead, to something closer to 3-1. If you put together the demographic projections and the narrowing killing rates, you have a truly awful prospect for Israel."
Yes, if only we could get back to the good old days of the 15-1 ratio, then all would be well. Maybe the learned Professor Kennedy has some suggestions on how that happy result can be achieved.
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