Israel's Intifada Victory

The overall level of violence has been reduced by more than 70 percent. How did Israel do it? By ignoring its critics and launching a two-pronged campaign of self-defense.

First, Israel targeted terrorist leaders -- attacks so hypocritically denounced by Westerners who, at the same time, cheer the hunt for, and demand the head of, Osama bin Laden. The top echelon of Hamas and other terrorist groups has been either arrested, killed or driven underground. The others are now so afraid of Israeli precision and intelligence -- the last Hamas operative to be killed by missile was riding a motorcycle -- that they are forced to devote much of their time and energy to self-protection and concealment.

Second, the fence. Only about a quarter of the separation fence has been built, but its effect is unmistakable. The northern part is already complete, and attacks in northern Israel have dwindled to almost nothing.

This success does not just save innocent lives; it changes the strategic equation of the whole conflict.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50910-2004Jun17.html

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while I disagree with the authors politics, he makes a compelling
case about the intafada.

is to support those people on both sides of the conflict who are looking for a long lasting solution that will result in peace. These folks have a plan that they presented at Geneva, and they have been, by and large, ignored. Since the fence which is being built is making it so that Palestinians are seperated from work and schools and will make it impossible for them to create a viable independent state, I see it as something that may give temporary relief but in the end will be a continuing source of friction between the factions. That's why supporting those who truly support peace is vital at this time.

Arafat failed, spectacularly. The violence did not bring Israel to its knees. Instead, it created chaos, lawlessness and economic disaster in the Palestinian areas. The Palestinians know the ruin that Arafat has brought, and they are beginning to protest it. He promised them blood and victory; he delivered on the blood.

Even more important, they have lost their place at the table. Israel is now defining a new equilibrium that will reign for years to come -- the separation fence is unilaterally drawing the line that separates Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians were offered the chance to negotiate that frontier at Camp David and chose war instead. Now they are paying the price.

It stands to reason. It is the height of absurdity to launch a terrorist war against Israel, then demand the right to determine the nature and route of the barrier built to prevent that very terrorism.

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Arafat gambled and lost......big time.....AGAIN.

Sadly, the palestinians havent fully figured out that Arafat
is a sucker bet.

long-lasting peace without short term quiet. Once they get used to it, they won't want to return to agony.

and grind their face in the dirt, works temporarily.....

"The only way for the Palestinians to achieve statehood and dignity, and to determine the contours of their own state, will be to negotiate a final peace based on genuine coexistence with a Jewish state.

It could be a year, five years or a generation until the Palestinians come to that realization. The pity is that so many, Arab and Israeli, will have had to die before then."


pity

The article was puerile crap, which didn't surprise me in the least. The only casualties that matter are Israeli casualties, that the uprising against the occupying power is nothing but terrorism, and the Palestinian people turned down an ever-so generous offer, at least that's what this particular writer would have people believe. The writer also makes what I believe is the intentional mistake of painting the conflict in terms of Israel being totally innocent and blameless. The onus is totally on an occupied people living in terrible conditions to come to a realisation and oust their corrupt leader, for whom they are responsible, but not once does the writer point out that if that's the case, then the Israeli people have to come to the conclusion that it takes two to tango, and they have to elect leaders who are interested in peace and genuine coexistence. Sharon and his cronies have to go just as much as Arafat does. The writer also believes that since he's proclaimed the Intifada over, things are just honky dory. It doesn't matter how many Palestinians are killed, or that they live under a brutal military occupation. As long as no Israelis are hurt, that's all that matters to this guy....

Violet...

"The only way for the Palestinians to achieve statehood and dignity,..

is for the Palestinian and Israeli extremists to fall by the wayside
Hamas and Hezbolla along with Right wing Settlers, Likud and
every other wacko on both sides ....

before there will even be a start ....

pity

what ?? no "cycle of violence".

As the article points out, its time for the PA to chose.

disapointed ?

belongs to Arafat...

Abu Hamid is asked to describe the effect on his life of the Palestinian Authority taking control of the Gaza Strip in 1994. Everyone within earshot giggles and snickers. He responded with what he said was an Arab proverb. ''My father's first wife slapped my face and gave me bread," he said. ''His second wife slapped me in the face, kicked me, and took the bread."

His listeners guffaw approvingly, and Abu Hamid explained: In the first intifadah, the 1987-92 round of fighting with Israel that occurred before Arafat returned from exile in Tunis and his Palestinian Authority took over Gaza, ''Israel hit us badly, but they supplied food, they let us work in Israel, and things continued. When these people came, they brought poverty, death, and corruption, and when the second intifadah came, everything collapsed."

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/06/20/in_center_of_mideast_conflict_hope_uncertainty_and_violence?pg=4

the palestinians are waking up to reality thats arafat.......

"He promised them blood and victory; he delivered on the blood."

"the boot on the back of the Palestinians' neck...
belongs to Arafat..."

its Arafat-a-rama again and Arafats bulldozers ...
bla bla bla like Clintons P*** its behind every evil ...

in the sense that if Arafat took the Clinton deal, there would be no wall...

and, by the way, in first place, it is Israel that is behind every evil, Clinton's penis is a close second, while Arafat is running a distant third...

that is why Clinton's penis tries harder (har har har)...

Arafat walked away and a year later wanted it back.

BIG DOG RULES.

he does, I miss him ...