The Morality of Palestinian Terrorism

When is a resort to violence in the pursuit of political goals morally justified? Two clear and consistent answers are ‘never’ and ‘always’. The ‘total pacifist’ asserts the former, claiming that violence is never morally justified, even in the pursuit of worthy political goals. The proponent of ‘total realpolitik’ asserts the latter, maintaining that violence is morally justified whenever it will be effective in achieving the desired political goal. Such positions can be clear and consistent because they lie at the endpoints of a continuum of views about the morality of political violence. Those who crave clarity and simplicity will be attracted to one or the other of these positions.