Israel warns of response to mass terror.

Drudgereport ^ | 12-2--02 | Joshua Brilliant

[Jimmyclyde]

Israel warns of response to mass terror

By Joshua Brilliant From the International Desk Published 12/2/2002 9:48 PM

HERZLIYA, Israel, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The head of Israel's National Security Council said Monday that a "mega-terror attack" threatening Israel's existence would open options for retaliation that hitherto "were unacceptable to public opinion."

Ephraim Halevy, who recently stepped down as head of the Mossad spy service, warned that Israel has "a broad and varied range of capabilities (to cope with a threat to its existence) that better not be exposed prematurely."

In an address to the Third Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel's Security, Halevy said Israel must examine the new reality created by last week's attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner taking off from Mombassa, Kenya.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Sunday told the Cabinet there were increasing signs that al Qaida was behind Thursday's attacks in Mombassa. Three suicide bombers attacked a hotel frequented by Israelis killing themselves, 10 Kenyans and three Israelis. At the same time two shoulder-launched missiles were fired at an Israeli Boeing 757-300 taking off from Mombassa International Airport with 272 passengers and crew. The missiles barely missed the plane.

Military chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon, said Monday the Israel Defense Forces have already foiled many al Qaida attacks in Israel. Al Qaida has Palestinian operatives in the occupied territories and "has declared war on ... infidels, making Israel one of its main targets," he said.

At the Herzliya conference Halevy said, "The emergence of a mega-terror attack by the world Jihad or by another terror organization changes rules of the game, changes the national mood and creates an international dynamic that opens options that so far have been unacceptable to public opinion."

One must assume that a successful mega-terror incident would "at once changes rules of conduct and behavior. The emerging threat (to Israel) is a threat of genocide -- destroying a state and its institutions," he added.

The new National Security Council chief said the campaign the world Jihad is waging has no boundary lines, regular forces and the attackers violate "all rules of war."

No one can remain neutral, he continued. "Whoever gives the terrorists any aide whatsoever -- identifies with terror. It is possible that due to temporary conditions ... not all those aiding terror will be taken care of simultaneously ... But it is clear that at the end of the day whoever fails to clarify his positions here and now and back them with deeds, will be marked as an accessory to terror and will pay the full price for it."

Haalevy declined comment on a report that al Qaida had claimed responsibility for Thursday's attacks in Mombassa. He told United Press International he was not aware of any such claim.

Haifa University's Professor Gabriel Ben-Dor reported on a changing public attitude towards terror attacks. Basing his findings on the results of five public opinion surveys conducted at six months intervals among 2,000 people Ben Dor said that more than 80 percent of the Israelis polled expressed fear of terror attacks.

That translated also into increased Israeli militancy with as many as 70 percent ready to back any military action.

However in the last survey, in October, he found a decline in fear, patriotism and militancy. "It seems as though the Israeli public is getting accustomed to living with the phenomena of terror," he concluded.

Copyright © 2002 United Press International

[nevergore]

Got Nuke?

NeverGore

[Jimmyclyde]

HERZLIYA, Israel, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The head of Israel's National Security Council said Monday that a "mega-terror attack" threatening Israel's existence would open options for retaliation that hitherto "were unacceptable to public opinion."

Ephraim Halevy, who recently stepped down as head of the Mossad spy service, warned that Israel has "a broad and varied range of capabilities (to cope with a threat to its existence) that better not be exposed prematurely."

If I were Israel, I wouldn't wait for the "mega attack".

Just count up all the dead Jews over the past two years.

It's called the second Holocaust.......

Just a little slower.

[Jimmyclyde]

One a day, keeps the Moslems away.

[islander-11]

I'm reminded of The Sopranos episode where Tony told Paulie and Christopher not to #$%& with the Russians.

The terrorists have now pissed off the Americans, the Israelis AND the Russians. Doom on them.

[judicial meanz]

Its definitely time to take off the gloves and give these demoniac, zoosexual, camel loving morons a taste of the "Sherman Doctrine". Give em the war they want so bad in full, living color. Make it so bad they think twice before even mentioning the US or Israel in conversation.
The line about choosing sides is appropriately timely. There is only two sides to this conflict. The right one and the wrong one.

[philosofy123]

A mafia like campaign to silence the venomous clerics is the best way to go. The word on the street is if a cleric preaches hate against Christians and Jews, he will be killed. Let us do things like what Clinton's goons used to do; drive by shooting, accidentally fall of the balcony, found in a park with ten bullets in his head and a gun in his left hand.....This system worked great for the hillbilly from Arkansas, it may work for us too, specially if the Arab government would look the other way when we kill their bad clerics. Our government did to protect Bill and Hillary.

[DooDahhhh]

Indeed they did! Why?

[Dark Wing]

ping

[flamefront]

This article is also posted with considerate comments here on FR.

[July 4th]

would open options for retaliation that hitherto "were unacceptable to public opinion."

IDF's "glassmakers" are on alert...

[flamefront]

From Israel Insider:

Ephraim Halevy, chairman of the National Security Council and former head of Mossad security service, warned that a mega-terror attack against Israel would "instantly change a long series of rules of conduct and behavior" with regards to Israel's response.

Addressing the Third Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel's Security on Monday, Halevy described the threat against Israel as existential. "The emerging threat (to Israel) is a threat of genocide, destroying a state and its institutions," he said.

Faced up against this threat, Halevy said Israel has "a broad and varied range of capabilities that better not be exposed prematurely."

Last Thursday's missile attack that narrowly missed hitting an Arkia airliner taking off from Mombasa, Kenya, would have constituted a mega-terror attack if it had succeeded in downing the plane, Halevy said. "This sort of an attack is a significant new phase and we cannot ignore it."

Halevy said that Israel should relate to the attack as if it had succeeded. "The emergence of a mega-terror attack by the world Jihad, or by another terror organization, changes rules of the game, changes the national mood and creates an international dynamic that opens options that so far have been unacceptable to public opinion."

Halevy did not detail the kind of response that Israel would take, but implied that it would be harsher than anything that the country has done until now.

Halevy said it was in Israel's interest that the United States succeeds in disarming Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. There has never been such a synthesis of interests between Israel and the United States as there is today, he said.

"Israel has never needed to examine its international policies with so much consideration of the needs and interests of the United States," he said. "If the United States succeeds [in Iraq], as many of us hope, there will be far-reaching changes in the Middle East." The end result will be "undoubtedly favorable for Israel," he added.

Halevy said Palestinian officials speaking out against violence and suicide bombers "are not the voices of the righteous but the voices of realists" who see the harm the Intifada is causing to the Palestinian nationalist movement.

"These are the voices of sober people who correctly read the regional and international political map, and fear that if the Palestinians continue with terrorism there is a real danger the national Palestinian movement will be wiped out," he said.

Draw your own conclusions but I think we just hit a historic milestone.

[Napoleon Solo]

For every Israeli life taken by these camel riders, one square kilometer of land to be taken back from the Palis. Push them into Jordan and Eqypt or better yet, into the sea. Then take out SA and Iran and Syria.

NS

[anniegetyourgun]

Bountyhunting can also be quite effective.

[cake_crumb]

" 'Al Qaida has Palestinian operatives in the occupied territories and "has declared war on ... infidels, making Israel one of its main targets,' he said."

The religion of pieces (of people) strikes again...

[cake_crumb]

"Got Nuke?"

I still say we should aim nukes at Mecca. Hold the meteor they worship hostage.

[cake_crumb]

"A mafia like campaign to silence the venomous clerics is the best way to go."

Sure, why not? Fight fire with fire. After all, the terrorists, headed by those clerics, ARE an organized, mafia-like crime ring. They don't just homocide bomb...they run guns and drugs, launder money, kidnap for $$$, etc.

[bulldogs]

Terrorism for the terrorists! I like it.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The head of Israel's National Security Council said Monday that a "mega-terror attack" threatening Israel's existence would open options for retaliation that hitherto "were unacceptable to public opinion."

This guy is probably talking "special weapons" (i.e. Nukes). This is similar to when we put out word to Iraq about 6 months ago that Iraq would face annihilation if they used WMD on American troops.

[Starrgaizr]

Nukes certainly are an option if Israel takes a major nation-threatening hit, but since Israel is always accused of expelling Palestinians and leveling Arab towns anyway, one wonders if they might just decide to start making Ramallah and Hebron look like Chechnya in response to a massive terror strike.