Posted on 08/15/2005 3:27:23 PM PDT by yoe
The Israeli government's removal of its own citizens from Gaza ranks as one of the worst errors ever made by a democracy.
This step is the worse for being self-imposed, not the result of pressure from Washington. When the Bush administration first heard in December 2003 that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had unilaterally decided to pull all soldiers and civilians from Gaza, it responded coolly. Months of persuasion were needed to get the White House to embrace the initiative.
The harm will be three-fold: within Israel, in relations with the Palestinians, and internationally.
Sharon won the prime ministry in early 2003 by electorally crushing an opponent who espoused unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. Sharon declared back then: "A unilateral withdrawal is not a recipe for peace. It is a recipe for war." For unknown reasons, in late 2003 he adopted his opponent's policy of leaving Gaza, thereby reneging on his promises, betraying his supporters, and inflicting lasting damage on Israeli public life.
To Palestinian rejectionists, an Israeli retreat under fire sends an unambiguous signal: Terrorism works. Just as the Israeli departure from Lebanon five years earlier provoked new violence, so too will fleeing Gaza. Palestinians ignore all the verbiage about "disengagement" and see it for what it really is, an Israeli retreat under fire. Indeed, Palestinian leaders have already broadcast their intent to deploy Gaza-like aggression to pry the West Bank and Jerusalem from Israeli control. Should that campaign succeed, Haifa and Tel Aviv are next, after which Israel itself disappears.
The Sharon government has also defaulted on its obligations to its allies in the war on terror. As other states, such as Great Britain, finally show signs of getting more serious about counterterrorism, Israel's politicians release hundreds of convicted terrorists and retreat under fire from Gaza, encouraging more terrorism.
Israel's mistakes are not unique for a democracy – French appeasement of Germany in the 1930s or American incrementalism in Vietnam come to mind – but none other jeopardized the very existence of a people.
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Were I Sharon, I would pull the plug on this and stay in Gaza - no more appeasing the thankless Palestinians; they have been appeased and appeased, they will never change, terrorism is a way of life for them.
Where they really went wrong was not annexing the lands won in 1967 and expelling the enemy inhabitants therein.
LOL! Its Gaza that is the ghetto. Surrounded on all sides and completely unviable as a place to live.. Which is , incidentally, whats going to happen to the West Bank once the fence is up. If the Arabs want work , theyre going to have to look for it in Jordan or elsewhere, the Israelis dont need Palestinian labor, thats what this is all about. Good luck to those numbskulls.
Exactly. The Gaza settlements were completely indefensible from a military standpoint. The homes there are not hardened against attack, and they are often too separated to even provide mutual fire support.
All that defending the Gaza settlers has gotten Israel is dead troops and wasted treasure. The Gaza settlers can't or won't fortify their areas to the point where they can really be self-sufficient. Therefore, withdrawal is indicated.
I don't think that a lot of people realize what this is going to mean; once the Israelis pull back behind their wall, everything on the OTHER side of the wall becomes a free-fire zone. The Israelis no longer have to worry about Israeli settlers being down range when the Palis launch another Qassam rocket attack. They can just indiscriminately rocket/shell the area around the Qassam's launch point. Al Queda and Hamas wants to move into the vacated Gaza settlements? Great. I bet every single house, farm, garage, shack, and hut in the Gaza settlements is in the Israeli Army's fire control computers for their artillery. Let them move in, set up, get comfortable. Then level the place.
I don't think the Israelis are appeasing anyone, they're executing a strategic withdrawal to draw the enemy out where they can be identified and killed with impunity.
This just goes to show you how much easier it is to be an opposition candidate than it is to serve in a ruling capacity.
Any objective view of the situation in Gaza would indicate that Israel's withdrawal -- far from being some kind of catastrophic act of "appeasement" -- was inevitable.
It's a shame that the Israeli's continue the failed policy of land for continued violence. The IDF took Gaza in the '67 war and they deserve to keep it.
IMO, giving up Gaza to the murderers trying to eliminate them just means that they will have to take it back in the future.
Perhaps the next time, they'll just keep it.
Indeed, Palestinian leaders have already broadcast their intent to deploy Gaza-like aggression to pry the West Bank and Jerusalem from Israeli control.
Many have complained that the withdrawal is unreciprocated by any Palestinian concessions, or that it will be claimed by the Palestinians as a victory for violence and thus will encourage more violence.
My objection to this argument is simple. The Palestinians are never, ever going to make any meaningful concessions or act responsibly or decently in any way. Further, whatever happens they will claim it is a victory for their methods and call for more of the same.
So why let their intransigence dictate Israels' actions? Israel was either going to keep Gaza forever, or relinquish it under circumstances like those present today. There was never any other possibility. Waiting for the Palestinians to change is a fool's errand.
The Palestinians are using force to the maximum possible extent, and will always do so. Israel's duty is to configure itself in such a way as to optimize its self-defense, and then fight forever. If they want peace, then they should just move the whole operation to Argentina.
Israel is a democracy, and there never was, nor ever would have been, a national consensus to expell the Palestinians from those lands. It simply was never a possibility. Leaders must be realistic. I admire PM Sharon for being realistic.
Actually, the Palestinians have been given a great opportunity...one they didn't earn. If they maintain order, can elect real leaders, and make real laws, their country will get bigger (west bank) and they will become more respected internationally. However, if the Gaza becomes a cesspool of terrorism, bloody infighting, and decay, the Palestinians will get nothing more. It's truly a brilliant strategy.
And, here's the rub. Once the Israeli's and Palestinians learn to live a part in peace....I'm thinking 100-200 years, it is quite likely that they will become closer and great friends. The logical conclusion to all this is the actual joining of the two societies when the old war dogs die off. It really is inevitable.
Right now, will see just how mature the Palestinians are.
This is the precedent setter to be used as an examople when we give the southwest back to Mexico. Thank W and Condi!
Otherwise, he's given in to these madmen and that's something he CANNOT do under ANY circumstances.
Hope this isn't the start of Intifada III.
Bump
It's very close to that already and moving in every direction. Our leaders do not represent me in anyway when it comes to OUR borders, and hell will freeze over before I support them again. Take your tax-breaks and put'em where the sun don't shine. They'll make little difference when the whole country, this "Republic", is all speaking Mexican, or Arabic of some sort, not by choice, but by neccesity just to order frikkin' dinner at the restaurant of your choice.
Don't even get me started on "Imminent Domain".......or should I say "(il)legal domain"?
FMCDH(BITS)
They have to deal with the circumstances. They cannot occupy millions of hostile people. Your comment about 1967 aside, they made a huge error in inviting the PLO to take control of Judea and Samaria. Had they never done that, they might have been able to cultivate a local leadership that was less violent and negotiated peace terms. But they didn't, and have to deal with the consequences.
I think long term, Israel is rushing to allow for the creation of a Palestinian state because, as a state, they cannot use occupation as a cover for violence. If they have a state and continue to be at war, Israel will have a much freer hand to deal with its foes than it would as an "occupier".
Whether the Internationalists will continue to play their double standards remains to be seen, but it will at least erase their ability to be such simple hypocrites regarding Israel's obligation to defend itself.
"Further, whatever happens they will claim it is a victory for their methods and call for more of the same."
Sort of like Democrats.
This is a disgrace, and I am appalled it is happening. Arafat et al are imposters and terrorists with no right to that land.
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