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New response to Palestinian terrorism
The Jerusalem Post ^ | 3/11/2002 | Alan M. Dershowitz

Posted on 03/10/2002 4:34:44 PM PST by eclectic

(March 11) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell is surely correct in pointing out that Israel's current policy has not succeeded in curbing terrorism. But Powell has suggested no alternative policy. Surely the US cannot expect Israel simply to absorb terrorist attacks without any response.

In light of the willingness of suicide bombers to die in the process of killing Israelis, the traditional methods of deterrence and retaliation seem insufficient. To succeed, Israel must turn the Palestinian leadership and people against the use of terrorism and the terrorists themselves. One way to do this is to make terrorists directly bear the responsibility for losses inflicted on the Palestinian cause as a direct result of their terrorism.

Here is my proposal. Israel should announce an immediate unilateral cessation in retaliation against terrorist attacks. This moratorium would be in effect for a short period, say four or five days, to give the Palestinian leadership an opportunity to respond to the new policy. It would also make it clear to the world that Israel is taking an important step in ending what has become a cycle of violence.

Following the end of the moratorium, Israel would institute the following new policy if Palestinian terrorism were to resume. It will announce precisely what it will do in response to the next act of terrorism. For example, it could announce the first act of terrorism following the moratorium will result in the destruction of a small village which has been used as a base for terrorist operations. The residents would be given 24 hours to leave, and then troops will come in and bulldoze all of the buildings.

The response will be automatic. The order will have been given in advance of the terrorist attacks and there will be no discretion. The point is to make the automatic destruction of the village the fault of the Palestinian terrorists who had advance warnings of the specific consequences of their action. The soldiers would simply be acting as the means for carrying out a previously announced policy of retaliation against a designated target.

Further acts of terrorism would trigger further destruction of specifically named locations. The "waiting list" targets would be made public and circulated throughout the Palestinian-controlled areas.

If this automatic policy of destroying targets announced in advance is carried out with the full support of the entire government, including those who are committed to a resumption of the peace process, a clear message will be sent to the Palestinian people: Every time terrorists blow themselves up and kill civilians, they are also blowing up one of their own villages.

Over time, the Palestinian residents of these villages will place the blame where it should be placed: directly on the Palestinian terrorists who engaged in terrorism against Israel with full knowledge the consequence would be the destruction of their homes. Those villagers whose homes were coming up on the list would have an incentive to pressure the terrorists to desist.

An alternative approach would be to announce in advance that Israel is prepared to give back most of the occupied territory in the event of peace - which it has already essentially done - but every act of terrorism will result in an automatic and permanent decrease of a specific portion of the land mass that eventually would constitute the Palestinian state.

Again, this decision would have to be announced in advance with the approval of all Israeli parties who would be involved in a peace deal. The land that would be surrendered by the future Palestinian state to Israel in response to every terrorist act would be immediately annexed to Israel and be deemed a permanent part of the Jewish state, ceded to it by the deliberate acts of the terrorists.

This would send a clear message that every act of terrorism will hurt the Palestinian cause, making a reality out of President George W. Bush's statement following the terrorist murder of Daniel Pearl: "[Terrorists] need to know that these crimes only hurt their cause."

For this policy to work, it must have the advance approval of the US government. If Israel carries out this policy after a moratorium on retaliation and full notice to the Palestinians, it should not be criticized for doing so. If the entire world knows this is the policy and that it will be enforced automatically, and that the decision whether to trigger it in any given case rests completely with those who would engage in acts of terrorism against Israel, then pressure will be brought to bear on Palestinian terrorists to refrain from their intended actions.

For this policy to work, it must be accompanied by a genuine effort to reopen realistic peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Such a double-edged policy would contribute to two noble causes at the same time: helping to reduce terrorism and promoting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

(The writer is a professor of law at Harvard. His latest book is Shouting Fire: Civil Liberties in a Turbulent Age.)


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: israel; michaeldobbs; terrorism; war
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Mr. Dershowitz is making sense (finally)
1 posted on 03/10/2002 4:34:44 PM PST by eclectic
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To: eclectic
It might be an improvement over the present approach. But...it's much the same sort of thing the Nazis used to do. "We have taken 1,000 citizens hostage. If the Resistance blows up our ammo dump, we will kill them." I know this isn't the same thing, but Israel's enemies will happily pretend that it is.
2 posted on 03/10/2002 4:43:18 PM PST by ArcLight
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To: eclectic
An alternative approach would be to announce in advance that Israel is prepared to give back most of the occupied territory in the event of peace - which it has already essentially done - but every act of terrorism will result in an automatic and permanent decrease of a specific portion of the land mass that eventually would constitute the Palestinian state.

This plan is no good, because the Palestinians already say they want more territory than Israel is offering them at most, and because, by making the losses permanent, decreases the chances for peace in the future.

A better solution would simply be to continue to build new settlements (And displace Palestinians) with every terrorist attack. If it takes 100 years for Israel to retake the Palestinian areas, then so be it. But--in order give an incentive to make peace--offer that if the Palestinian government made real progress in cracking down on the terrorists, that ALL of the settlements would be returned. And then, if the Palestinians can be peaceful for at least ten years, they could see about giving up East Jerusalem to be the Palestinians' capital.

The problem with the current peace proposals is that they're stupid. Why should Israel surrender REAL territory BEFORE the Palestinians deliver any of their promises? That was the spirit of the Oslo Accords, and that's why they failed.

3 posted on 03/10/2002 4:43:53 PM PST by xm177e2
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To: eclectic
Mr. Dershowitz is making sense (finally)

Not really.


In light of the willingness of suicide bombers to die in the process of killing Israelis, the traditional methods of deterrence and retaliation seem insufficient.

Dershowitz and his ilk are the ones for whom the traditional methods of war are unacceptable. Cut off food, water, and electricity. Kill everyone with a towel on his head or face, and destroy the mosques; and peace will come very quickly.

ML/NJ

4 posted on 03/10/2002 4:46:19 PM PST by ml/nj
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To: xm177e2
The Pali's only intent is to drive Israel into the sea. They do not wish to co -exist with them in peace. Not now.....not ever.
5 posted on 03/10/2002 4:47:31 PM PST by ladyinred
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To: eclectic
Interesting and thought provoking.
6 posted on 03/10/2002 4:50:32 PM PST by Travis McGee
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To: ArcLight
"...it's much the same sort of thing the Nazis used to do. "We have taken 1,000 citizens hostage. If the Resistance blows up our ammo dump, we will kill them."

Only a blind man would see them as "much the same sort of thing".

Blowing up a Nazi ammo dump in time of war is the same as blowing up a civilian wedding party or cafe?

Bulldozing an empty village is the same as killing 1,000 civilian hostages?

7 posted on 03/10/2002 4:53:04 PM PST by Travis McGee
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To: ladyinred
The Pali's only intent is to drive Israel into the sea.

We know that. Anybody who does not acknowledge this is a fool. The question is what Israelis can do about this

8 posted on 03/10/2002 5:00:35 PM PST by eclectic
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To: Travis McGee
Travis, you know that, and I know that. But the Palestinian fanatics and their syncophantic supporters will pay no heed to the difference.
9 posted on 03/10/2002 5:07:16 PM PST by ArcLight
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To: eclectic
For every terrorist act, deport/expell all relatives of the perp, then destroy their homes. Usually, the families of the perps are compensated by the terrorist orginizations.
10 posted on 03/10/2002 5:12:46 PM PST by umgud
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To: Travis McGee
Of course the Maqui regretted the 1000 killed but that just made the surrounding country that much madder at the Germans,and provided the Maqui with more members and support. Win Win.

What is the answer in Israel? I don't have a clue.

I AM tired of seeing young Israelis with their arms blown off,while Palistinian spokesmen talk about Israeli "oppression".

11 posted on 03/10/2002 5:22:48 PM PST by tet68
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To: eclectic
The only solution is to deport all of the Palestinians to the neigboring countries. There will be no peace until the Arabs or the Israelis lose completely. This is a religious war. BTW How can the Saudis promise peace unless they are completely in control of the terrorism?
12 posted on 03/10/2002 5:24:33 PM PST by Robear
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To: eclectic
Won't work. Pallies believe that very shortly they will have ALL of Israel, and the Jewish state will be no more. They know that just what they are doing now, makes that inevitable within a few years.

They are not going to change their activities and their course in any way, unless Israel could actually make it non-possible for them to go on...not HAVING any explosives, or any suicide bombers...or anything else!

Nor will treaties, cease-fires, etc help, for these are agreements between Muslims and infidels and thus non-enforceable against the Muslims. There would never have been any intention to abide by them even as the signatures were made.

You know I am right, Dershowitz knows I am right, and Bush and Sharon know I am right. The population itself must be targeted and transferred. Otherwise, no Israel, start erasing it from your maps tonight!

No, I am not kidding.

13 posted on 03/10/2002 5:25:27 PM PST by crystalk
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To: crystalk
Pallies believe that very shortly they will have ALL of Israel, and the Jewish state will be no more.

Even the saner Israeli leftists concurr on that point, www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/634519/posts

14 posted on 03/10/2002 5:35:16 PM PST by l33t
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To: ArcLight
The imans have convinced these kids they are going to paradise. How would it effect their thinking if Israel were to keep the terrorist bodies and bury them with with a pig. Don't the moslems also have a ban on pork. Would this keep them from their paradise?
15 posted on 03/10/2002 5:48:17 PM PST by Broward Lion
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To: *Zion_ist

16 posted on 03/10/2002 5:55:30 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: ml/nj
Dershowitz and his ilk are the ones for whom the traditional methods of war are unacceptable. Cut off food, water, and electricity. Kill everyone with a towel on his head or face, and destroy the mosques; and peace will come very quickly.

My solution is somewhat different. I think the Israelis should forcibly remove the palis, and I mean all of them, and forcibly transport them to, and over, the border with either Syria or Lebanon. The Israeli military can punch the hole, shove them through, then seal the border. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the now deserted villages and cities (or what is left of them) should be raized in their entirty and converted to new agricultural settlements.

Of course you know, that means war.

17 posted on 03/10/2002 7:31:43 PM PST by lafroste
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: eclectic
Dershowitz's plan will NOT work.

Dershowitz's plan assumes that the Palestinians are capable of rational thought, have the ability to blame themselves or their terrorist children for the revenge being delivered by the IDF -- and lastly, that the muslims will EVER be satisfied to live in peace with the Jews in Israel.

The fighting is NOT about "justice".
The fighting is NOT about reclaiming occupied "Palestine".
The fighting is exactly what those Arab bastards said it was -- a Jihad, a HOLY war.
It's all about their cultist religion that requires them to hate and kill non-muslims.

The ONLY way to end this war, is for one side to be bled white. One side must be so horribly defeated and diminished, that they can no longer be a threat to the "winner"..

The fighting will go on until one side decides it loves their children more than they hate their enemy.
Semper Fi

19 posted on 03/10/2002 8:02:02 PM PST by river rat
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To: tet68
What is the answer in Israel? I don't have a clue.

I do ... exterminate them.
Treat them like we would treat heart-carving human sacrificing Aztecs in the modern world.

20 posted on 03/10/2002 8:07:49 PM PST by Centurion2000
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