No One to Blame but Themselves

Common experience -- if not history -- tells us that one should never gloat over other people's misfortunes, because, quicker than you can imagine, you have troubles of your own. This comes to mind when one learns about the disturbing episodes of terrorism or vandalism that have sprung up in Israel these past few days. Call it what you will, far-right and other Jewish extremists have gone on a rampage against Arabs and the State of Israel itself. It seems that previous incidents had gone largely unpunished. So, feeling encouraged by the State's lax stance, these people have escalated the level of violence.

Israel must feel embarrassed, to say the least. Touting itself as the only true democracy, respectful of human rights and all-around good guy in the region, this very dark side of people who, purportedly, are eternal victims of the neighboring Arabs and the rest of the world tells a different tale.

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