Replies to post #7786 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Zeev Hed]

A handful of crazies is not the problem, the problem is armed factions that practice terror and are free to do so (even encouraged) by the civilian leadership. We have had our own domestic terrorists in the past and these can be handled. It is state supported terrorism which is the problem. In Oslo, Israel agreed to arm the Palestinians in order to reign in the terrorists gang, Arafat either did not want to, or was afraid to be murdered or was unable to reign in these factions (my guess is the first). Ben Gurion had similar problems with his extreme terrorist groups, few arrests, few sown downs with guns at hand, bringing the country on the verge of a "brothers war", and the message got through. Use the democratic process of the ballot box to advance your ideals. Two of the 1948 "terrorists" leaders, Begin and Shamir actually did that and both ended up being prime ministers in Israel, one of them, Begin, even signed a peace treaty with Egypt.... Why can't Arafat be a statesman like David Ben Gurion and earn an eternal place in the history of his nation?


Zeev

[Zeev Hed]

Slowly, but surely, what the Palestinian leadership failed to do, the Israeli are doing:


A Catastrophic Month Averted
(IsraelNN.com) Security establishment officials
reported today that although eight persons were
killed as a result of Arab terrorism in February,
security forces working around-the-clock did an
exemplary job preventing terror attacks.

57 major attacks were prevented as a result of
efforts by security forces. In addition, 44 suicide
bombers were taken into custody before they had
an opportunity to become human bombs.

During the month of February, there were 52 'hot
warnings' that placed the defense and intelligence
communities on around-the-clock alert status. A
nationwide terror alert is still in effect today.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that efforts
continue to place terrorists on the defensive instead
of the terrorists having time to strike out at
innocent Israelis.

[sylvester80]

Feb18-Uprising to be demilitarised for a year, says PLO leader; 'Step towards reaching peace in Mid-East'
[ed: this was from Feb 18 - yet the buther Sharon continues the slaughter with U.S. support and now as a ultra right wing fascist. There is no way we (the U.S.) will ever win any war on terrorism with policies like that.]

MOSCOW - A senior Palestinian leader wants a one-year 'demilitarisation' of the uprising as a step towards implementing a 'road map' towards peace in the Middle East.

And the Palestinians have said they have already started the process.

Deputy Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas yesterday made the startling claim after talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

After the meeting, he said: 'The Palestinian leadership has decided to demilitarise the intifada for one year.'

He fired a broadside at Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who, he said 'wants neither security nor peace, but we must not play his game and give him the pretext to continue attacks on the Palestinian people'.

Referring to the peace plan drawn up by the Middle East quartet - the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations - he said the Palestinians were 'ready to do everything we can do to implement the road map. We agree with all points of the plan'.

He told Mr Ivanov: 'We are calling for force not to be used, for the demilitarisation of the uprising.... but Sharon will continue his aggression, and all the blame will be his.'

Mr Abbas, who holds the No 2 position in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, is regarded as a strong contender for the post of prime minister.

In December, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, mediating inter-Palestinian talks in Cairo, said the delegates had raised the possibility of examining 'unarmed' forms of resistance.

Mr Ivanov said the 'road map' was a 'realistic proposal' that could contribute to improving the situation, and called for it to be 'put into practice as quickly as possible'.

He rejected reported Israeli plans to propose more than 100 amendments to the 'road map', quoted Thursday by the Israeli daily Haaretz, saying that as such a move would extend the process of reaching a settlement, 'we cannot allow this'. --AFP