Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' at Home: Can I ask you a dumb question?

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Can I ask you a dumb question?

The Great White Hope of the State of Israel today is the magical security fence that is meant to end the terror threat against the Jewish State forever.

In light of that, the following analysis should come as quite a surprise:

This is the third year in a row in which the number of terrorist acts has been reduced sharply... The Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces attribute the reduction mainly to the improvement in their joint capability to foil terrorist attacks and to act against terrorist organizations.

The security fence is no longer mentioned as the major factor in preventing suicide bombings, mainly because the terrorists have found ways to bypass it. The fence does make it harder for them, but the flawed inspection procedures at its checkpoints, the gaps and uncompleted sections enable suicide bombers to enter Israel.

Five suicide bombings took place this year - two in Netanya, one in Hadera, one in Tel Aviv and one, with no fatalities, in Be'er Sheva - compared to only two in 2004. The number of fatalities resulting from these attacks has risen a little, from 14 to 21.

So, there you have it, the "security" fence has nothing to do with providing security for the State of Israel!

So, what then is the purpose of the "security" fence, if not to quietly return Israel to the pre-1967 lines (deemed by Abba Eban as Auschwitz borders), and allow for the creation of a "Palestinian" State?

Second, knowing this, why are so many in Israel silent about the dangers that this "security" fence poses to the Jewish State?

Israel
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10 Comments:

Ze'ev,

I am a little confused - what is your point here - the security fence is bad? Why? Is it helping the Palestinians attack us?

All this article said was that it was NO LONGER considered the MAJOR factor in stopping terrorist incidents, and this is because the anti-Zionist settlers who are working to decrease the security of Jews living inside the green line for their own benefit have prevented the construction of all of the security fence.

This means that 2004's decrease in terror was attrbuted to the fence as was 2003's - so in fact it clearly works. But what do the IDF and the Shin Bet say is the major factor? Their ability to work well together to prevent terror! Oh what a surprise, Tzahal and Shabak have produced a report saying there has been less terror and it is because of our good work!

What is the actual event which has affected the decrease in terror according to the article: The truce in the shtahim. A diplomatic move! So actually the proof you brought only proves that a policy you object to is effective!

By Anonymous, at Tue Jan 03, 12:09:00 PM GMT+2

Haim, are we reading the same article? The article clearly states that the IDF and Shin Bet don't attribute any reduction in terror ot the fence, b/c the terrorists have learned how to keep killing Jews in spite of the fence.

As such, the fence is not there for security but as a political border -a silent disnegagement slowly taking shape...

By Ze'ev, at Tue Jan 03, 01:45:00 PM GMT+2

not many know about the fact that the security fence is a detterance to Israel's security..

Thank you for enlightening me.. but what is there to be done?

By Anonymous, at Tue Jan 03, 03:34:00 PM GMT+2

Anon,

Thats a good question, with an answer that is not as good.

The fence is nearly complete. Efforts can be made to stop the building of the fence, in particular in areas where it is going to cut off Jewish communities.

I think the key is to bring awareness of this issue ot the public. Most Jews in Israelo are not in favor of giving away Judea and Samaria - and certainly not unilaterally.

Once people come to understand what the fence is all about - and what the next step will be once completed, perhaps that will freeze things in their tracks.

Let's hope.

By Ze'ev, at Tue Jan 03, 03:56:00 PM GMT+2

Ze'ev,

did you miss this part of that article:

"the gaps and uncompleted sections enable suicide bombers to enter Israel."

So surely what would be best for Israel's security would be to complete the fence as quickly as possible. No?

By Anonymous, at Tue Jan 03, 04:21:00 PM GMT+2

Haim, read this:

The security fence is no longer mentioned as the major factor in preventing suicide bombings, mainly because the terrorists have found ways to bypass it. The fence does make it harder for them, but the flawed inspection procedures at its checkpoints,

By Ze'ev, at Tue Jan 03, 04:34:00 PM GMT+2

The Security fence is NO LONGER mentioned ....

Which means that in previous reports it was mentioned as the major factor!!!!!

So did the fence stop working???

By Anonymous, at Tue Jan 03, 04:41:00 PM GMT+2

Haim, it became evident that the "security" aspect of the fence was hyped up...

By Ze'ev, at Tue Jan 03, 05:02:00 PM GMT+2

I've actually got to agree with Haim on this one. It seems like the fence has done plenty, and the main problems now are the gaps (which by logic should then be completed) and the poor manning of checkpoints (which should be adjusted). In addition, by forcing the terrorists to try and get through the checkpoints or find ways to bypass the fence, I'm sure more terrorists have been caught. Perhaps those aren't included under 'security fence saves', but they are still related.

I have issues with some aspects of the fence, but overall you can't say it's not helping.

By Ezzie, at Wed Jan 04, 08:50:00 AM GMT+2

Ezzie - the fence does not fight terror, it delays it, or pushes it off to somewhere else - at the end of the day - the problem still exists, and we will need to deal with it minus all of Yesha - I dont see how this can be a good thing.

By Ze'ev, at Wed Jan 04, 11:59:00 AM GMT+2