Spare us the lectures - Jerusalem Post

[Coastie for Truth]

Even today, as the victims of the Hadera bombing are buried, Israel's government is sure to be criticized for the way it protects its citizens. It will doubtlessly be told that it brought this tragedy upon itself, and that it must assume a passive posture if it is to avoid further bloodshed.

We have heard this all before, on countless occasions.

At times like this, there is always a chorus that pops up to lecture our leaders with the kind of advice that has proven, time and again, to be fatal. First they mourn the "regrettable loss of life" and bemoan the fact that "calm has been shattered." Then comes the familiar call for Israeli restraint, as if such restraint will prevent, rather than invite, the next attack.

In this case, as in many others, the claim of the terrorists themselves that Israel has provoked the attack will be politely repeated and discussed. It will be stated or implied that Israel has roused the anger of the terrorists by rounding up them up and targeting their commanders. Didn't Israel know, they will ask, that Islamic Jihad would be "forced" to respond to the killing, days before Wednesday's attack, of Luay Sa'adi? And wouldn't a fierce Israeli strike in the wake of the Hadera bombing only invite further terror?


Edited to comply with the "Fair Use" Provisions of the Copyright Code-->

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[legin]

2. The FU aimed at the J-P of course n/t

.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Okay - apology accepted

I was all set to click "Ignore" and write you off as a freeper and stalker.

[legin]

4. Sorry about that, a bit out of practice

not that my posts were particularily precise when I was in practice.
:crazy:

[barb162]

5. Abbas vows 'iron fist' against raiders

(I want to see this iron fist already)



http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=125387&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28221

Abbas vows 'iron fist' against raiders
RAMALLAH: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday slammed militants for taking the law into their own hands and harming Palestinian interests as a suicide bombing killed five Israelis.

Just hours before the deadly blast which ripped through a marketplace in the northern Israeli town of Hadera, Abbas vowed to use "an iron fist" against those operating above the law.

He urged militants to stop giving Israel excuses to launch attacks. Both the suicide bombing and a recent flurry of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, were "violations" of a Cairo truce agreement, which was inked in March but has largely proved to be ineffective, he later said.

The Hadera bombing and a series of rocket attacks on southern Israel were claimed by the radical Islamic Jihad, which said both acts were in retaliation for the killing of its top West Bank military commander.
snip

[Coastie for Truth]

8. Palestinian Entrepreneurial Class

About five-six years ago I spent a week in a lawyers' conference room with eight Palestinian "IT" entrepreneurial software types. Just like the silicon valley types. They had a good product, some pending patent applications, a good business plan, and a good pitch. I really like these guys. And, I wanted to see them do well. BUT NO MONEY.

Their biggest problem in raising money (and this was when some VC's were still throwing money at anybody with a copy of "JAVA for Dummies" and a Microsoft "J++ Software Developers Kit" ) --- was two fold:

1. The total corruption of the PA (they would have had an easier time if they stayed in Cairo - which they eventually did).
2. The "war risk" premium - which was only exacerbated by the talks of "divestment" and the terrorism.

Good news - they did get money, their business "thrived" -- and like all smart IT start ups -- they sold out to an 800 pound gorilla.

Bad news - the corruption and the "war risk" and the divestment talk scared away even more money.

[barb162]

6. PM: No summit if terror persists

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3160362,00.html

PM: No summit if terror persists


Sharon takes advantage of meeting with Russian foreign minister in order to convey unequivocal message to Palestinians following Hadera bombing: If situation continues, I shall not meet with Abbas

snip

Sharon said that "Yesterday we faced a severe act of terror. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority is not taking any serious measures in order to fight terror, and therefore we have decided to run the battle through a full-scale operation."


"Our operations will be comprehensive and nonstop until we bring terror to an end."

snip

During the meeting Sharon also noted that "We are not happy to conduct military operations, but the fact that Abbas condemns the attack does not assist us."
snip

[barb162]

7. "...how many times has Israel lifted roadblocks

only to have such gestures literally blow up in our faces?

So this time, for a change, spare us the lectures...."



Excellent opinion piece.

[Colorado Blue]

9. I agree. Thanks for posting it. EOM

[eyl]

10. 2 excerpts

I wanted to point out.

First of all, to the "Israel shatters every ceasefire crowd"

In this case, as in many others, the claim of the terrorists themselves that Israel has provoked the attack will be politely repeated and discussed. It will be stated or implied that Israel has roused the anger of the terrorists by rounding up them up and targeting their commanders. Didn't Israel know, they will ask, that Islamic Jihad would be "forced" to respond to the killing, days before Wednesday's attack, of Luay Sa'adi? And wouldn't a fierce Israeli strike in the wake of the Hadera bombing only invite further terror?

Such people ignore the reality that there has been no calm, except the calm before the storm. Just 11 days ago, three Israelis near Gush Etzion were gunned down on the roads. On Monday, numerous Kassams were launched into Israel from Gaza. Has this already been forgotten? The chorus overlooks the fact that Sa'adi had directed the murders of several Israelis and was planning new attacks when the IDF killed him. And they fail to grasp that it was precisely PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's failure to lift a finger to control groups like Islamic Jihad that made Israel's arrest raids in the West Bank and the neutralization of men such as Sa'adi an absolute imperative.

And for those who keep urging Israel to release more Palestinian prisoners, and other "good-will" gestures, why Israel may feel hesitant about those:

According to early reports on Wednesday, the terrorist who detonated himself in Hadera's market had recently been released from an Israeli prison - in a gesture of support for Abbas.

This too is a standard refrain of the chorus within days of each attack: Why don't you make more "humanitarian gestures" to the Palestinians? Only a few days ago, Israel was treated to criticism from American special Middle East envoy James Wolfensohn that it was being too strict with its closures of border crossings. The shortsightedness of such calls is as painful as it is predictable.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[barb162]

12. Israel ends up being the cop

[hiabrill]

13. What can Israel do to "help" Abbas....

...act against Islamic Jihad and Hamas?

Currently, does Abbas truly have the means and ability to contain them or act against them.


Israel shouldn't be acting the police, they need to empower Abbas, but how?