From the standpoint of the bloodthirsty terror—masters of Hamas, women have many theoretical advantages as carriers of suicide terror bombs. Their Islamic garb is baggy, making it easy to hide explosives. Their faces are masked, so identifying known suspects is difficult. Best of all, any attempt to inspect them or detain them can be portrayed as an outrageous affront to Islamic women, and inspire further condemnation of the targeted victims of the bombing. The terrorist as victim is an irresistible icon for those consumed by blood lust.

The only problem is finding the human vehicles to implement this strategic gambit. Islamic women, commanded to subservience, do not readily become fired—up with ambition to murder Jews, infidels, or apostate Muslims. Moreover, the role of wife and mother is inherently connected to nurturance, at least as it has been understood in most civilizations for most of human history. But hatred can inspire creativity.

Details which have just emerged concerning last week's bombing at Erez Crossing, undertaken by the mother of two young children, demonstrate that a new and demonically effective methodology may have been created to generate feminine cannon fodder. Her husband has already been reported to have been tired of her, after three and a half years of marriage, and possibly anxious to move—on. Journalists in Gaza City reported that the couple was known to have been split by an unknown bitter dispute.

Marim Aryechi, the 22 year old bomber who shocked even Israel's anti—terror experts, was expiating her guilt over having had an affair with a man other than her husband Ziad Anwar. Both husband and lover were Hamas activists, and both helped equip her with explosives, sending her lovingly on her mission of murder.

The additional information of about her having had a lover naturally leads to speculation that the two Hamas brothers agreed to set her up. The lover would seduce her as part of a honey—trap. With the husband's connivance, it would not be difficult to manufacture circumstances conducive to seduction, if not romance. A spurned young wife with two small children might have particularly intense needs for comfort, sympathy, and the solace of a lover's embrace.

Once she gave in to the importuning of her lover, the jaws of the trap would have sprung closed. Now, she could be 'discovered' and branded a betrayer. The sentence of death is automatic in Islamic law, so her life was now over. The only question remaining would be whether she would die as a shamed sinner, condemned to eternal damnation, her children taught to hate and despise her for the rest of their lives; OR, whether she would become a holy martyr of Islam, honored by her children, and bound for heaven (does she rate a bevy of male virgins? Perhaps appropriate Islamic religious authorities could enlighten us).

Hamas officials are reported to condone the use of women in terror strikes, particularly in situations where a woman can carry out the assignment more easily (since she is likely to cause less suspicion at crossing points), and when the woman has transgressed moral norms. In such cases, a woman's "sacrifice" atones for the "stain" she has caused to her family for violating moral codes.

This amounts to the ultimate 'gotcha.' Given the fact that her destiny in life was to be subordinate to her husband, and indeed all Muslim males, her best option became 'honorable' self—inflicted death, rather than religiously—mandated execution.

Of course, Marim's family are denying the story, and insist that she was merely inspired by love of Islam and Palestine to abandon her motherly duties to her children

Just when you thought the terrorists could go no lower, they prove that human ingenuity knows no limits.

Posted by Thomas  01 19 04