Respect Israel's own `war on terror'
Katie Thompson
senior
Eighteen months ago, the idea that the United States must distance herself politically from Israel and accommodate the Palestinians may have been a legitimate policy option. Much has changed since that time.
In her Feb. 12 letter, "America can strongly influence the Middle East," Rachel Smith attacks controversial Israeli counterinsurgency methods. True, Ariel Sharon has repeatedly employed overwhelming force and violated international laws. Smith is also correct in her assertion that "significant changes are called for on both sides." Israel is caught in the unfortunate position of defending her security and protecting her liberty, and has yet to find an effective method of accomplishing both goals. Despite Israel's extreme measures, however, the United States must not play into the hands of the Palestinians to the detriment of Israel.
Smith paints a sympathetic portrait of Yasser Arafat, a man "trapped under house arrest," unable to lead his people to peace. In reality, Arafat has had numerous opportunities to implement a final peace agreement with Israel. Abandoning the talks at Camp David in the summer of 2000, he made clear to the world that his thirst for power trumps his desire for a lasting peace.
Over the course of the past decade, Arafat seemed to accomplish the daunting task of evolving from terrorist to statesman. He has held audiences with former President Clinton, won the Nobel Peace Prize and come within arm's length of presiding over an official Palestinian state. With this intifada, however, Arafat has reverted to his terrorist roots and called into question any legitimacy he and his Palestinian Authority have ever had.
The overwhelming number of Palestinian casualties, including women and children, cannot be pinned on Israel alone. The riots held by the Palestinians are designed to draw overwhelming response from Israel and sympathy from the international community. That sympathy is wearing thin.
The images of Palestinians championing the events of Sept. 11 were painful for most Americans to watch. The continuation of Palestinian suicide bombings is an overt slap in our face. Whatever common ground we may have had with the Palestinians is slipping away. By exhibiting popular support for terrorism, the Palestinian community has taken one more step toward the ominous network of "evil" our president has vowed to destroy.
What right have we now to tell Sharon to sit down with Arafat and negotiate? Arafat has played this game too many times. If he is in control of the Palestinian combatants, let him order them to lay down arms. If he is not in control, as many believe to be the case, let him tell us exactly who is. Let him prove himself a statesman. Until then, do not let him continue to play us for fools.
The U.S. policy toward terror is based upon four basic tenets: Make no concessions, bring terrorists to justice, do not tolerate state-sponsorship of terror and protect our friends. In the wake of Sept. 11 we have released the wrath of the U.S. military on the Taliban and al-Qaeda and vowed to continue our campaign against terror wherever we see fit. We have been pushed to our limit. And Israel has been pushed to hers.
She is not innocent, but her struggle for survival is not to be taken lightly. We fear another terrorist strike. Israel expects it. To paraphrase former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "There comes a time when you can no longer afford to search for the needle in the haystack. You must simply take out the haystack."
The debate over civil liberties and national security has drawn a great deal of attention in the United States over the past several months. As yet, we have no answers. Israel's position is much more dire, and the debate more heated. It is a situation with which she constantly struggles. Sharon and his government understand there will be no real security without peace, and no peace without justice. At the same time, like the United States, Israel makes no concessions. We will not negotiate with terrorists. Who are we to demand from Israel that which we will not do ourselves? That would be the ultimate hypocrisy, the ultimate abuse of our moral high ground.
Katie Thompson
senior
off-campus
Feb. 13, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, February 19, 2002
