Isreal And The War On Terror

Fear is one of the worst things a person could live with in their life. Fear of heights, fear of drowning or fear of mice. Imagine the fear of being injured or killed walking down the street, picking up the newspaper or shopping at a mall. This is what most Israeli citizens must live with everyday of their life, the fear of death. Israeli citizens are left to wonder whether they will face suicide bombings, martyr shootings, drive by shootings or hidden bombs in restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, grocery stores, buses or anywhere where a big group of people would gather doing everyday things, like living their life. Palestinian terror groups and citizens try daily to kill Israeli citizens through methods of terror that leave Israelis living in fear. Israel now finds itself in a bloody war against Palestinian terror over borders, boundaries that only exist on maps (Figure 1.1). Every government has the right to defend its citizens and that is where the Israeli government finds itself today, the position of defending its citizens in their homeland from terror brought on by the Palestinians, and one could say that Israeli methods are justifiable.

Israel is in the Middle East located between Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and many other Arab states (Figure 1.2). The British divided Palestine into two states in 1946, Jordan an independent Arab state and western Palestine into a Jewish Arab state. The day Israel declared independence they were greeted with a war brought on by Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan to destroy this new born state, but Israel prevailed. On May 26, 1967, "Our basic goal is the destruction of Israel..." (www.bbc.com) as the same above mentioned countries once again attack Israel, and on October 6 1973, they attack Israel on Yom Kippur the holiest day of the year in Israel. Yet through all of this adversity Israel still prevailed and still seeks peace with the Arab world. The Arabs are represented by 8 separate nations and there is only 1 Jewish nation. "Arabs initiated all previous wars" (www.oslo-war.com) and many of the Arab countries vision of the Middle East, including Arafat's vision, is with no Israel and that is what is holding back peace in the Middle East.

In September 1993, former Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Arafat signed an Oslo accord, which recognized the decision by both sides to abandon armed struggle and settle by peaceful means, by dialogue. Israel even said it would withdraw its settlers in Palestine territories and give the land back to the Palestinians. This gesture by the Israel government seemed too many as an agreement that would finally put an end to all the madness that was going on within the country of Israel. But as one now knows this was unsuccessful. Unfortunately, it seemed that Arafat didn't make the change from a terrorist to the head of state. It can be said that he never took off his uniform and a few years after the accord was signed Arafat and his Palestinian people began an uprising and a new wave of terror. The Oslo accord for the Palestinian leaders was nothing more then a cover so it looked like they were doing all they can within their power to stop this war, but in actually fact it was nothing more than a disguise to begin their plan of obtaining all of Israel as their own. "The Oslo Accords were a Trojan horse; the strategic goal is the liberation of Palestine from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea." (Faysai Al-Husseini, Palestinian authority for Jerusalem affairs, 'Al-Arabi' Egypt newspaper June 24/01) According to BBC more then 70 Palestinian bomb attacks on Israeli civilians have occurred since September 2000 (about the same time as the new Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was appointed). They use suicide bombings against innocent civilians as a method to strike fear in Israeli hearts because Arafat has misled people into thinking that with enough terror the Jewish people will leave the state (NI magazine, August 2002, #348). Palestinian terrorists call for the destruction of innocent lives and have been known to kill plenty of children and women (terrorist bombings in market places, shopping malls, during weddings, and at nightclubs). For instance, December 1 2001, 15 dead as a result of an attack at a shopping mall. December 2 2002, Palestine suicide bomber blows up bus killing 15 and injuring 20. March 27 2002, 27 killed celebrating Passover and this was one of the deadliest attacks (all figures from CNN.) This just goes to show one that Israeli citizens are in constant fear of their life because no matter where they go, may it be the shopping mall or the bus or even celebrating a religious day they are in striking distance of these cold-blooded killers. How can one justify attacks on innocent civilians when this has to do with political matters? When Israel strikes back, which they are justified in doing so, they attack military compounds or suspected terrorists members in order to protect their civilians, but when Palestine attacks they attack civilians because this is a "holy war" and they must "murder the Jews". These attacks on civilians have left no other choice but for Israel to take military action in the name of peace.

Israel has done much more to try to solve the conflict then has the Palestinians. They have always tried to seek peace and have never wanted to enter bloody wars as they have never initiated only retaliated. During recent peace talks, Israel has offered 97 % of the West Bank (Figure 1.3), East Jerusalem (Palestine's intended capital), and 4 options of citizenship to refugees and the option of moving to Israel. With this offer Palestine would have an independent state. Yet this offer was not accepted by Yasser Arafat as he wanted 100% of the West Bank, East Jerusalem (which was offered) and all 3 million refugees the option to become an Israeli citizen (www.haaretzdaily.com, Palestinian media watch). Israel's offer wasn't perfect but very similar to the Palestine demands and it was a genuine attempt by Israel to make peace and solve the conflict. Palestinians could have continued negotiations by dialogue instead of using terror to achieve their demands. Terror is unjustifiable and is not an alternative to negotiations, but according to 69% of Palestinians, they support suicide bombings operations against Israel. (Source: Poll conducted by Palestinian Jerusalem Media and Communication center, July 2001) Just like Egypt and Jordan negotiated with Israel and are today at peace, Palestine could have done the same. Arafat believes that he's ready to "sacrifice 70 martyrs to kill each Israeli" (official Palestinian radio, December 18 2001, reported by The New York Times) and that this war "will continue until all of Palestine is liberated" (Arafat, Palestine voice radio, 11/11/95). Until thoughts