Israel Considers Demolishing Terrorists Home

On Wednesday, a Palestinian construction worker took a tractor and used it to murder three and wound many innocent civilians in Jerusalem. An off duty Israeli soldier shot and killed the terrorist while still in the tractor.

Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is deliberating whether or not he should authorize the destruction of the terrorists home in East Jerusalem. Demolishing the homes of terrorist’s relatives has been Israel’s policy for some time now, and Israel hopes that these measures will deter potential terrorists from carrying out attacks, fearing harsh consequences for their family.

Personally, I do not find this policy effective. Instead of focusing on punishing terrorist families, Israel needs to focus on making sure that another attack from East Jerusalem Arab’s cannot occur. The Mercaz Harav terrorist came from East Jerusalem, as did Wednesday’s attacker; East Jerusalem Arabs are able to work and travel freely throughout Israel, and this must be reconsidered if more terrorist attacks originate from there.