Israel's Deputy Defense Minister, Ze'ev Boim, addressing the issue of why much of local, regional and world terrorism is directed by Muslims, asked Tuesday, "What is it about Islam as a whole and the Palestinians in particular? Is it some form of cultural deprivation? Is it some genetic defect. There is something that defies explanation in this continued murderousness."
Boim was speaking at a memorial ceremony in Tel Aviv.
In response, the Arab Member of Knesset, Jamal Zahalka of Balad party, said that "whoever says that Palestinian behavior is caused by a genetic defect has a brain defect himself and the values of a racist fascist."
"Boim is giving racism a bad name, and returning to the same kind of primitive, sickening and dangerous racism from which the Jews have suffered for many generations," Zahalka said, and demanded that the law against racism be enforced following Boim's statements.
MK Taleb a-Sane of the United Arab List called for Boim's resignation.
Boim's spokeswoman said the comments were merely rhetorical questions and taken out of context. "Deputy Minister Boim was referring to the incomprehensible phenomena of world, regional and local terror being directed by Islamic extremists," Schwartz said in a statement.
"He raised a number of rhetorical questions as explanations, but had no intention of answering them or determining facts," Boim's spokeswoman said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
