Iran has been playing mind games with its neighbors and the world. It has been threatening terrorism, inducing terror and harming the intended victims’ societies. Israel has been fighting Iran’s proxies for years, most evidently since Oct. 7.
Although they have very different meanings, there is a strong nexus between terror the emotion and terrorism the tactic. Effectively, the threat of a pending attack is what precipitates panic, dread and trepidation. That is what terror is: fear of a future event.
Once terrorism has been committed and an event has happened, terror is no longer in play for the immediately prior incident. Any terror felt is fear or anticipation of another, similar attack.
If a person or a state wants to inflict mental anguish on another population, they provoke some act of terrorism, as large or small as it may be. But then the terror begins. What will happen? When will the next act of violence occur? Am I in harm’s way? Are my family and friends? The terrorism is over but the terror continues forever. It is debilitating and can disable a society.
Terrorism is certainly a casus belli or, at the very least, a criminal matter. But what about the terror that has been imposed? How responsible is the perpetrator and for how long?
We all recognize the damage and loss of life and property post-9/11. However, we are still experiencing the sequellae every time we pass the TSA screening at the airport nearly 25 years later. 9/11 was no doubt terrorism. The TSA is a result of our fear that it could happen again.
So, the terrorist causes a major episode and enjoys the after-effects on the victimized population for a very long time.
When a terrorist threatens to commit a violent act; if a country threatens to bombard another; if a bully threatens to harm the weakling—naturally assuming that these threats are taken seriously—panic and fear ensue. The intended victim has to plan and ratchet up his protection. The anticipation of this terrorism is an act of terrorism in and of itself. Is the one who threatens responsible for the ensuing terror?
Iran is now threatening to attack Israel. That threat alone is causing serious havoc, from the military preparations to the mother sending her kids to play in the park.
Should we consider this causation of terror an act of terrorism in and of itself? Consider: Iran has caused Israeli society to experience fear, sleeplessness, economic deterioration and much uncertainty. It has thrown down the gauntlet. Israel must respond.
