The Terrorism and International Public Law

Abstract

Despite the international community's interest in terrorism, it has not been able to develop a consistent and comprehensive definition of terrorism or to achieve tangible results on the ground concerning its definition of the phenomenon of terrorism because this concept is intertwined with other concepts such as patriotism, nationalism, and legitimacy. This article determines the nature of terrorism, and its elements, and characteristics independent of other crimes, The study aims to clarify points of disagreement and agreement between Arab and Western viewpoints, And both of them agreed that the goal of terrorism is to create a state of terror and panic among the population, However, they differ as to whether the liberation movements have a legitimate or terrorist character, which is reflected in the definition of terrorism by each of the two parties in their internal laws, not to mention the dispute that arose at the level of international forums, including the UN. Despite the many causes, forms, types, and objectives of terrorism, they agree about the element of violence, creating a state of chaos in the targeted societies, and trying to change regimes.