On March 3, 2013, a group of “pro-peace” agitators organized by CODEPINK Women for Peace and Interfaith Peace-Builders made noise outside the Washington, D.C. Convention Center to harass the 12,000-plus participants attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual Policy Conference. Its activities were characterized by angry screaming and chants for a violent uprising: “Long live the intifada… intifada, intifada!”
Some background: The Palestinians initiated their first uprising, or “intifada,” against Israel from 1987 to 1993. It was marked by violence from the beginning; however, at the time, Palestinians had limited access to heavy artillery and resorted to using rocks, Molotov cocktails, and guns to target Israelis. By the time it concluded, over 170 Israelis had been killed.
The second intifada lasted from 2000 to 2005 and noted a significant escalation in violence thanks in great part to the Oslo Accords–an agreement meant to bring “peace” but that ultimately brought Palestinians easier access to dangerous weapons. During this uprising, Palestinians used guns, bombs, and suicide vests to target Israelis, killing over 1,000.
Anti-Israel groups often use terms such as “justice” and “pro-peace” to hide their true agenda which, as the video shows, is really “intifada.” There is a new push to claim that a new “intifada” may be non-violent, but history suggests otherwise.
Israelis are all too familiar with the Palestinian calls for violence and death; the call for an “intifada” has now reached the streets of Washington, D.C. and is being openly celebrated.
Danielle Avel is an analyst formerly affiliated with the Investigative Project on Terrorism. She can be reached through her website www.DanielleAvel.com and on Twitter. © Danielle Avel
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