"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein
Do you believe that Palestinians should have the right to bear arms?
ANSWER: Sir, You ask whether Palestinians should have the right to bear arms. Such a question places the respondent in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Like it or not, I certainly believe in the right of any people to bear arms. Our Second Amendment was drafted to protect the populace from a government gone bad. This right is universal, not peculiar to Americans. Should armed Palestinians conduct wanton acts of murder and terrorism under the banner of throwing off a bad (Israeli) government? The Israeli government only wants peace both within it's borders and with it's neighbors. I don't see any campaign to annihilate Palestinians; only to control the terrorist acts of the few. Does that seem unreasonable? Are ALL Palestinians fringe lunatics out to murder Jews? I think not. Therefore, their right to defend themselves against a murderous government is as valid as ours in America.
You asked what I took to be a serious question. I reply in the same vein.
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
Kvod Harav, In your response to the question of the Arabs' RKBA in Eretz-Yisrael, I would like to comment that you left out a very important point: Israelis in a state of WAR with most Arab states and (despite Oslo, or perhaps because of it) with the "Palestinians". The RKBA of Arabs in Israel is equal to that of Jews, but the "Palestinians" under Israeli control are under a military occupation, not loyal citizens of a democratic rule of law, and as such their primary use made of guns HAS been to kill Israelis. Another point that perhaps should have been made was that Arafat is the one in charge of most of the "territories" and I guess he believes in the RKBA-TKJ (To Kill Jews) since he lets Hamas run around free and smuggles arms for them - Kvod HaRav, Hamas has no right to LIVE let alone keep arms....... Bahavat ha"am veha'aretz, Nissan Raclaw Raanana, Israel.
ANSWER: Your comments are quite valid. I do not claim to be an authority in Israeli Palestinian politics. Nor have I, or any other sane person, upheld any right to keep and bear arms for murderers or terrorists. It is, in my view, not appropriate for this format to become a forum for discussion on any matter not directly involved with the concept of the rights of all people to defend themselves against governments gone sour. A question was posed, "Do Palestinians have the right to possess arms?" Since I'm aware of no source in halacha that would disenfranchise any nation of people, and being of the belief that self defense is a universal right, I responded accordingly. Never did I condone the actions of Hamas or Yassir Arafat.
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
Updated at http://www.gunownersalliance.com/Rabbi_0317.htm
