Keys to stopping terrorism
There are three keys to fighting Palestinian terrorism against Israel:
1. Cut off the head of the snake: The IDF and Israeli secret service are doing this with arrests where possible (on the West Bank) and targeted killings (mainly in Gaza). Since IJ never fully recognized any ceasefire and has continued attacks right through the recent calming period (tahdiya), and was responsible for the recent suicide bombing in Hadera that killed five, PM Sharon has given the IDF carte blanche to attack IJ until its attacks cease. Two top terrorists were killed in Gaza yesterday in a pin-point missile attack on their car, they were Hassan Madhoun of al Aksa Martyrs Brigades and Fawzi al Kudrawas of Hamas, both commanders, who were planning an attempt on the Karni crossing. They were also cooperating with IJ, and Madhoun is a former senior PA police officer. Although IJ and Hamas have been having discussions with the PA and Egypt to stop Israeli attacks against Gaza, by declaring that they will re-institute the calm, Israel has rejected this approach. The position of Israel is that it only negotiates with the PA, and unless Pres. Abbas comes forward with a solid ceasefire proposal, the Israeli attacks will continue. Unfortunately, an IDF sergeant, Jonathan Evron from Rishon Lezion, was shot dead during an arrest in the West Bank today.
2. Cut off the funding: Most of the funding for IJ, also for Hamas and increasingly for al Aksa Martyrs Brigades comes from Iran, via Syria and Lebanon. A special section of the Iranian Government is dedicated to carrying out this function, including training and propaganda/ indoctrination. As the President of Iran said the other day, why were people so surprised that Iran wants to "wipe Israel off the map," this has been Iranian Government policy since the beginning of the revolution. Parenthetically it is also the official policy of the IJ, Hamas and Hizbollah (it is also the policy of the PLO, although Arafat was supposed to have changed the PLO Charter, the actual changes were never implemented, the PLO Council voted to modify the Charter, but never actually did so). If Iranian funding for IJ and others could be interdicted as it flows thru the pipeline via Syria, this would severely hamper terrorist operations. So far Israel has had no leverage to stop this activity, but now that Syria is under intense pressure from the UN Security Council, regarding its involvement in the assassination of Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, and may be subject to UN sanctions, it may be possible that this could be used to force Syria to stop this destabilizing terrorist activity. Remember Pres. Bush and PM Blair have both said that countries that support terrorism are as guilty as the terrorists themselves.
3. Destroy the myths: There are two major prevailing myths in the Palestinian propaganda war against Israel. First is the myth that it is the Israeli "occupation" that is responsible for the terrorism. According to this concept, if the occupation ceases the conflict should stop. But, even though Israel disengaged from Gaza, nothing changed on the other side. There were no responsible statements that now that the occupation of Gaza is over, the Palestinians can concentrate on peace. On the contrary, they held militaristic rallies all over Gaza, they continued rocket attacks, and continued their incitement and inflamed rhetoric. Although they weakly claimed that the absence of ports and an airport and open crossing gates meant that Israel still "occupied" Gaza, and that it was still a "prison," very few people bought that. Also, the readiness of Israel to deal with the West Bank in negotiations with the PA if the terror stops is apparent to all but the most extreme Palestinian propagandists. How can anyone still believe this myth when it is clear that Iran's strategy has nothing to do with "the occupation."
The other prevailing myth is the "right of return." There is no such general right in international law. Refugees are defined only as those who have left or were forced to leave their country, NOT their descendents. Refugees are supposed to be settled in the country where they find themselves, and can only return to their original country with the agreement of the sovereign of that country. Israel does not agree to the "return" of the Palestinian "refugees," now after 50 years supposedly amounting to ca. 4 million people. Terminating UNWRA and passing the responsibility for the remaining actual refugees (a few thousand) over to the UNHCR, the address for all other refugees in the world, would go a long way to resolve this permanent refugee problem and ease the terrorism.
Concentrating on these key aspects of the terrorist situation would go a long way towards defeating their aims.
1. Cut off the head of the snake: The IDF and Israeli secret service are doing this with arrests where possible (on the West Bank) and targeted killings (mainly in Gaza). Since IJ never fully recognized any ceasefire and has continued attacks right through the recent calming period (tahdiya), and was responsible for the recent suicide bombing in Hadera that killed five, PM Sharon has given the IDF carte blanche to attack IJ until its attacks cease. Two top terrorists were killed in Gaza yesterday in a pin-point missile attack on their car, they were Hassan Madhoun of al Aksa Martyrs Brigades and Fawzi al Kudrawas of Hamas, both commanders, who were planning an attempt on the Karni crossing. They were also cooperating with IJ, and Madhoun is a former senior PA police officer. Although IJ and Hamas have been having discussions with the PA and Egypt to stop Israeli attacks against Gaza, by declaring that they will re-institute the calm, Israel has rejected this approach. The position of Israel is that it only negotiates with the PA, and unless Pres. Abbas comes forward with a solid ceasefire proposal, the Israeli attacks will continue. Unfortunately, an IDF sergeant, Jonathan Evron from Rishon Lezion, was shot dead during an arrest in the West Bank today.
2. Cut off the funding: Most of the funding for IJ, also for Hamas and increasingly for al Aksa Martyrs Brigades comes from Iran, via Syria and Lebanon. A special section of the Iranian Government is dedicated to carrying out this function, including training and propaganda/ indoctrination. As the President of Iran said the other day, why were people so surprised that Iran wants to "wipe Israel off the map," this has been Iranian Government policy since the beginning of the revolution. Parenthetically it is also the official policy of the IJ, Hamas and Hizbollah (it is also the policy of the PLO, although Arafat was supposed to have changed the PLO Charter, the actual changes were never implemented, the PLO Council voted to modify the Charter, but never actually did so). If Iranian funding for IJ and others could be interdicted as it flows thru the pipeline via Syria, this would severely hamper terrorist operations. So far Israel has had no leverage to stop this activity, but now that Syria is under intense pressure from the UN Security Council, regarding its involvement in the assassination of Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, and may be subject to UN sanctions, it may be possible that this could be used to force Syria to stop this destabilizing terrorist activity. Remember Pres. Bush and PM Blair have both said that countries that support terrorism are as guilty as the terrorists themselves.
3. Destroy the myths: There are two major prevailing myths in the Palestinian propaganda war against Israel. First is the myth that it is the Israeli "occupation" that is responsible for the terrorism. According to this concept, if the occupation ceases the conflict should stop. But, even though Israel disengaged from Gaza, nothing changed on the other side. There were no responsible statements that now that the occupation of Gaza is over, the Palestinians can concentrate on peace. On the contrary, they held militaristic rallies all over Gaza, they continued rocket attacks, and continued their incitement and inflamed rhetoric. Although they weakly claimed that the absence of ports and an airport and open crossing gates meant that Israel still "occupied" Gaza, and that it was still a "prison," very few people bought that. Also, the readiness of Israel to deal with the West Bank in negotiations with the PA if the terror stops is apparent to all but the most extreme Palestinian propagandists. How can anyone still believe this myth when it is clear that Iran's strategy has nothing to do with "the occupation."
The other prevailing myth is the "right of return." There is no such general right in international law. Refugees are defined only as those who have left or were forced to leave their country, NOT their descendents. Refugees are supposed to be settled in the country where they find themselves, and can only return to their original country with the agreement of the sovereign of that country. Israel does not agree to the "return" of the Palestinian "refugees," now after 50 years supposedly amounting to ca. 4 million people. Terminating UNWRA and passing the responsibility for the remaining actual refugees (a few thousand) over to the UNHCR, the address for all other refugees in the world, would go a long way to resolve this permanent refugee problem and ease the terrorism.
Concentrating on these key aspects of the terrorist situation would go a long way towards defeating their aims.
posted by Jack Cohen at 8:35 PM
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