| Israel's "Limited Response" -- Reprised. Patrick Pearlman 22 Oct 2002 Well, it's heart-warming to see the positive effect Sharon's recent private discussions with Pres. Bush have had! In response to the latest Palestinian attack on a civilian Israeli bus (14 dead & counting), the JPost quotes a "senior diplomatic source" as saying ""Those who committed the crime will not be exonerated, they will pay the price, but at the right time and place." Read: "When Washington says its okay." This is further evidence that the current government is pursuing the same deluded policy followed in 1990-91: Withhold retaliation in order to maintain the calm that Washington wants while it pursues its "campaign" against Hussein. History has proven that this self-restraint led Arab leaders to conclude that Israel was weak and that the time was drawing near when a military/terror solution to the "Zionist entity" could be achieved. Can Israel really expect Lebanon to take its threats over the Wazzani project seriously when it continues to heel when its masters in America command it? Can Israel really expect Hizbullah to cease cross border attacks when Israel withholds its hand? By indulging a "limited response" when the "time is right," the current government invites Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the numerous elements in the PA, to continue and even escalate their attacks against Israel's Jews, knowing Israel's response will be muted. It's time for Israel's government to put the interests of Israeli citizens ahead of Washington's "grand strategy" of building international (i.e., "moderate" Arab) support for its upcoming campaign against Saddam. After all, Israel's restraint over a decade ago only won it the reward of being forced to the peace table -- a process that culminated in the travesty of Oslo. The next peace process that Israel will be forced to accommodate after (hopefully) Saddam's liquidation, will likely prove even more self-destructive than the Oslo accords and their progeny. And Israel's government guarantees it by signaling a readiness to engage in self-restraint and passivity in the wake of this latest attack! Wake up, Sharon, and smell the cordite! |
The Case Agianst Israel's Enemies by Alan Dershowitz 
Coming from England and particularly from the BBC, MUST BE SEEN VIDEO! ANOTHER MUST SEE VIDEO |