ABC Mini-Encyclopedia

Settler Woman/Baby/Bus/Home/Body

The term "settler" as an adjective to modify a child, woman or school bus that has come under Palestinian attack dehumanizes the victim. In light of the dehumanization of the residents of the settlements by some Arab groups and others, to label an innocent victim as, for example, a "settler baby" tends to legitimize the attack. Some media have reported, for example, that a "settler bus" has come under attack, not mentioning that the bus-actually a school bus-was carrying nine- and 10-year-olds.
Examples of misuse: The family of a settler woman killed in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank refused to welcome a government representative to her funeral Wednesday because of the policy (Chicago Tribune, 5/31/01).
Jewish settlers have been trying to attack Palestinian homes and property there, and have done so in the last few days after the killing of a 10-month old Jewish settler baby in the town (CNN, 3/29/01).