PYRO TERROR: FOREST ARSONS

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Stereotypes and pre judice are human traits. It seems that they accompanied humanity since its beginning when people saw or meet somebody, and had to judge him as an enemy or as a friend. In this view, these traits are part of the evolution of human kind, hence, they should be important and valued. Is it? As we will show these traits may destroy the life not only of a person, but those of communities that are different in their origin, nationality, gender, skin color and age. People may be labelled as dangerous to society in accordance to their born status, and they may ?nd themselves at the lowest strata of their society or culture (Adams -Quackenbush et al. 2019; Barlow & Barlow, 2002; Deskins et. Al. 2017; Park & Wittenbrink, 2002; Plous, 2003). Our article addresses stereotypes and pre judice as an attitude, conscious or unconscious, among the public in relation to forest arsons in Israel. These attitudes are common among the police, and the judicial system. The personal of these systems are members of the culture, in?uence by it and in?uence back on it. In other words these personal are mirror of the attitudes which are common in the society they serve and in?uence this society until there is a loop of attitudes between culture, society and the judicial system. Many studies found out that police of?cers, prosecutors and even judges use the notion of pro?ling to mark certain marginal groups as more dangerous to society. This so-called pro?ling justi?es arrests, prosecutes, and more severe punishment in the name of society's security. As a result, the mass media and the public accept this pro?ling and develop stereotypes and prejudgment against these groups. In many countries these traits address against immigrants, women, young people, black skin color and other characteristics, which make them more vulnerable to media hype, being arrest more easily and punish more severely. As a result, they become more exposed to negative labels and pre judice. Our article addresses these issues in relation to arson in Israel and show how stereotypes and pre judice among the public make the media and the public to believe that and to blame Arabs in eco terrorism of forest arsons, while the data shows that only 2% of the arsons are motives by national ideology (i.e., Terror)