I'm glad to see that three major Israeli dailies, including left-wing Ha'aretz, agree with me that, in the face of constant rocket fire by Palestinians in Gaza, Israel must restore its deterrence.
Ha'aretz says to "leave no stone unturned" to restore calm but, sadly, stops short of endorsing the only meaningful action that would be effective -- military action. Right-of-center Yisrael Hayom, on the other hand, gets it exactly right, advising that military action would make Israel's enemies "think twice" before firing more rockets.
By sitting on its hands, Israel's current government thinks it wins itself sympathy and goodwill internationally. This is unlikely. With few exceptions, the world will be no more willing to see Israel's point of view and allow it to action it feels is necessary, whenever that might be. The effect of Israel's hesitance is to make it appear weak and vulnerable and to further erode its image as a strong, vibrant country not worth bullying.
Showing posts with label Failed Israeli Policies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Failed Israeli Policies. Show all posts
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
New Twist to Palestinian Prisoner Releases
The Associated Press reported today that Israel has freed 24 Palestinian prisoners who are members of the al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades.
The Brigades draw their ranks from the Fatah movement. They initially were funded by Palestinian Authority President Yasir Arafat. Many serve in the PA's security forces and moonlight in the Brigades while off-duty. Most probably continue to receive not only salaries from the PA but funding for the anti-Israel activity to keep them happy and as tacit support for their activity.
The irony in the most recent release is that Israel reportedly has required that eight of the 24 return to prison each night at 9pm. I can just see it now -- the eight actually showing up each night, knocking on the prison door requesting to be let in. This is a wild expection and I hope the press will report on whether or not it actually happens.
Israel, once again, dupes itself into thinking that goodwill gestures such as this prisoner release will make the Palestinians take the decisions necessary to facilitate a lasting peace. Such moves actually embolden the Palestinians to continue to make insatiable demands, thereby postponing any possible peace.
The Brigades draw their ranks from the Fatah movement. They initially were funded by Palestinian Authority President Yasir Arafat. Many serve in the PA's security forces and moonlight in the Brigades while off-duty. Most probably continue to receive not only salaries from the PA but funding for the anti-Israel activity to keep them happy and as tacit support for their activity.
The irony in the most recent release is that Israel reportedly has required that eight of the 24 return to prison each night at 9pm. I can just see it now -- the eight actually showing up each night, knocking on the prison door requesting to be let in. This is a wild expection and I hope the press will report on whether or not it actually happens.
Israel, once again, dupes itself into thinking that goodwill gestures such as this prisoner release will make the Palestinians take the decisions necessary to facilitate a lasting peace. Such moves actually embolden the Palestinians to continue to make insatiable demands, thereby postponing any possible peace.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Bulldozer Terrorist Attack Was Preventable
In an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post, Yaakov Katz writes that today's attack by a Arab resident of Jerusalem driving a bulldozer would have been "difficult to foil." Israel's Chief of Police, David Cohen, said "There's no way to control a single person if he wants to commit terrorism."
However, according to earlier reports, the terrorist -- Husam Taysir Dwayat, a 30-year-old father of two from Sur Bahir in southeast Jerusalem -- was carrying an Israeli identity card and had a criminal record due to previous criminal activities, mainly drug felonies, as well as furniture theft. Had Dwayat not been issued an Israeli residency document in the first place or had his documents been revoked upon conviction of a crime, or in this case several, he would not have been legally employable in Jerusalem and would have been unlikely to have had access to the bulldozer used in the attack.
If Arabs fortunate enough to hold Israeli residency permits commit crimes or other violations, then those permits should be suspended or revoked, because they have proven themselves to be security risks. If Israel does not now conduct a thorough background check on Arabs applying for or holding residence permits, it should start to do so immediately. Having a criminal record like today's terrorist did ought to be immediate grounds for disqualification for such permits and the employment privileges inside Israel that accompany them.
However, according to earlier reports, the terrorist -- Husam Taysir Dwayat, a 30-year-old father of two from Sur Bahir in southeast Jerusalem -- was carrying an Israeli identity card and had a criminal record due to previous criminal activities, mainly drug felonies, as well as furniture theft. Had Dwayat not been issued an Israeli residency document in the first place or had his documents been revoked upon conviction of a crime, or in this case several, he would not have been legally employable in Jerusalem and would have been unlikely to have had access to the bulldozer used in the attack.
If Arabs fortunate enough to hold Israeli residency permits commit crimes or other violations, then those permits should be suspended or revoked, because they have proven themselves to be security risks. If Israel does not now conduct a thorough background check on Arabs applying for or holding residence permits, it should start to do so immediately. Having a criminal record like today's terrorist did ought to be immediate grounds for disqualification for such permits and the employment privileges inside Israel that accompany them.
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