I lived in Ireland for 6 years, as a child, but it was in the southeastern region, so fortunately we never witnessed much violence from the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The only bombing I recall, was when they blew up Nelson’s Pillar in Dublin, which wasn’t a huge issue. But Northern Ireland was a different story. There was much death and destruction, some of which crossed the seas to England. After decades of fighting the Brits, in what was more of a political rather than religious battle (though strangely it was always the Catholics versus the Protestants), they finally packed away their “terrorist” tactics (and label) in 2007, when they created a unity government of sorts. For several years there has been peace in Ireland, until a few days ago. It seems that the IRA has resurfaced and has started to wreak havoc, once again.

Barely three days after two British soldiers were shot and killed by a dissident faction of the Irish Republican Army, another breakaway group claimed responsibility for an ambush that killed a police officer Monday night in this town southwest of Belfast.

Committed to violence to achieve their goals of a united Ireland, the IRA (which had split into various factions pre-peace agreement- The IRA and The Provisional IRA, which wants a socialist government) has now, in its new incarnation, morphed into 3 major dissident networks. The Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for the death of the policeman, a married man with 3 children. Although a 17 and 37-year-old man were arrested, there are probably plenty more ready to step into their shoes. The Real IRA took responsibility for the soldiers that were killed on Saturday.

Opposed to the peace process, they will continue to inflict harm until they achieve their goals. Sound familiar? Hamas has the same mindset. This is how terrorists work. They don’t care about living in peace. They just want what they want, and it doesn’t matter how many people are killed in the process. The difference, however, is that the politicians in Northern Ireland, along with the majority of citizens there, desire peace, and will do anything to ensure it happens. A 25-year-old Catholic man said,

“There is still a small minority out there who agree with shootings and all that,” he said. “I don’t agree with it myself. There was a time when I may have agreed with it. But it is the wrong time. Violence is in the past.”

The Palestinians, on the other hand, elected their terrorist organization to lead part of their country, and Hamas certainly has no intention of establishing peace with Israel. It would be as if members of the IRA were elected to govern part of Northern Ireland, and had continued to attack and bait Britain into continuing the fight.

What terrorists don’t understand is that their violence does not endear peace-loving people to their cause. When will they realize that?