| Having committed itself to agreements signed by its predecessors,
the Netanyahu Government proceeded with the implementation of
the Oslo Accords soon after coming to power in 1996. Placing
special emphasis on the centrality of security, the Government has
insisted that terrorism is incompatible with the peace process, and
that the Palestinian commitment to the fight against terrorism must
be an integral component of the process. The chosen instrument for achieving Palestinian compliance with the peace accords is the principle of reciprocity. In signing the Hebron accord in January 1997 the Government attained the incorporation of reciprocity into the agreement. Besides insisting on the revision of the PLO Covenant and the removal of Palestinian Authority (PA) institutions from Jerusalem, the Netanyahu Government secured the PA's reaffirmation of its commitment to the following: strengthening security cooperation, preventing incitement, combatting terrorist organizations and dismantling their infrastructure, prosecuting and punishing terrorists, handing over terrorist suspects and the confiscation of illegal firearms. As part of its commitment to the peace process, Israel proceeded to implement its obligation under the Oslo accord and the Hebron agreement. Israel completed its redeployment from Hebron, released female terrorists, some of whom had been convicted of murder, and transferred significant funds to the PA, despite the authority's unpaid debts to Israel. The Government also eased the closure on the territories, increasing the number of work permits given to Palestinians from 22,000 to 56,000 and ultimately to 70,000. On October 23, 1998, Israel signed the Wye River Memorandum with the Palestinians in Washington. Building on the principle of reciprocity incorporated in the Hebron accord, Israel succeeded in achieving an agreement containing direct linkage between Palestinian compliance and Israeli withdrawals. The Wye accord contains a three-stage time line specifying the measures which the PA must take before Israel carries out any further withdrawals. In accordance with its Wye commitments, Israel proceeded to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, permit the opening of the Gaza international airport and the Karni industrial zone and resume the work of the interim committees. In November 1998, Israeli forces redeployed in northern Samaria, tripling the size of territory under exclusive Palestinian control (Area A). But as soon as Israel had redeployed, the PA began violating its commitments. The PA refrained from combatting the terrorist infrastructure, refused to confiscate illegal weapons and failed to reduce the size of its bloated police force. It planned and organized riots against Israeli forces and incited the Palestinian public to acts of violence. Palestinian officials and the PA-controlled media continue to preach virulent anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incitement and hostile propaganda. The PA reinstituted its "revolving door" policy whereby wanted terrorists and fugitives were briefly detained with great fanfare only to be quietly released shortly thereafter. As a result of the PA's blunt non-compliance with its Wye commitments, Israel suspended further withdrawals until the Palestinians meet their obligations. Israel believes it is possible to reach a peace settlement with the Palestinians. The first ground rule of such a process is an unequivocal effort to remove terrorism and violence from the Israel-Palestinian diplomatic equation. Violations of security commitments by the PA cannot be overlooked: they must be addressed and changed. Neither controversial steps nor exasperations and frustrations can excuse a return to violence. |
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 |