Terror has been applied systematically against governments, the public, ethnic groups or single individuals since times immemorial, and is definitely not a modern invention. Even in those days the Greek historian Xenophon described the rewards of psychological warfare. Terrorism has been applied by political organizations aimed at targets left and right alike, nationalistic, ethnic and religious factions as well as by revolutionaries, military, secret police, and in full public view by several governments, regardless of their political motivations. Just look at Caucasus, Balkan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and the rest of the political madhouse. So far in the sad history of mankind terror has again and again proved an efficient tactical means to consolidate strategic positions.
Democratic institutions are only in exceptional cases able to resist sustained terrorism.
Weapons are not only hardware, but also how rhetorics are utilized. Today the Left Movement is supplying all the verbal ammunition needed. PLO has succeeded in achieving complete International acceptance. History is repeating herself. If Israel is going to win, better start brushing up on Machiavelli, because his are the principles of war that apply to the Left.