This is a photo of the man who killed Tom Hurndall with a shot to the forehead while Tom was rescuing two Palestinian children from gunfire. It feels strange to look on the face of a person who has killed someone you know. After a long battle by Tom’s family Taysir Hayb was convicted yesterday for killing Tom. Taysir’s military and political masters have yet to take any responsibility for their part in what is a common occurance as part of the general oppression of Palestinians.
Reminds me of something Bansky is quoted to have said:
People who follow authority are dangerous motherfuckers. More crimes are committed in the name of obedience than disobedience. It’s always the people who do what they’re told who end up carrying out genocides and gas attacks.
So just to be on the safe side I’ve stopped doing what I’m told, ever. That way you can always be sure.
I met and got to know Tom a little in Iraq as part of the human shield action. Not surprisingly he was one of the good guys. He left Iraq and ended up in Israel, as far as I know because he wasn’t sure about our strategy in Iraq. This is what Tom wrote in his diary in November, 2001:
What do I want from this life? What makes you happy is not enough. All the things that satisfy our instincts only satisfy the animal in us. I want to be proud of myself. I want more. I want to look up to myself and when I die, I want to smile because of the things I have done, not cry for the things I haven’t done.
Update (26 May 2007): Killers name corrected from Wahid Taysir to Taysir Hayb
Too bad that terrorists won’t desist in their rforts to kill Jews in Israel.
Blame every death on them, not the Israelis who have to be tough or be wiped out.