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Crisis in Israel and U.S.-Led War on Terrorism
Talking Points I
1. Were the September 11th terrorist attacks on America a result of America's support for Israel and a consequence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
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Despite Osama Bin Laden's comment in the videotape that was broadcast saying that the terrorism would only cease when "peace reigns in Palestine and… all the army of infidels depart the land of Mohammed," - Israel is only a side issue for the radical Islamists. Osama Bin Laden's goal is to destroy Western civilization and culture. The Islamists hate America because of its democratic values and commitment to religious freedom, not because the U.S. supports Israel. They hate Israel for having Western values and for being an ally of the U.S.
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Even if there were no Israeli-Palestinian conflict, either because of a peace agreement or if Israel did not exist, these extremists would still hate the United States as much and would be just as determined to murder.
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These radical Islamic extremists exploit the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as propaganda with which to stir up and unite Arabs and Muslims against America and the coalition. The Islamist aim throughout the world is not to secure rights for the Palestinians. Bin Laden only began speaking of support for the Palestinian cause two weeks before September 11th. Before that, he resented the Palestinians because they dominated the press in the Middle East and all over the world.
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Blaming American Middle East policy is a cover-up of the real goals of the Islamic extremists. Their real aim is the destruction of Western values and influences. They want to overthrow moderate Arab regimes, which they feel are influenced by the West. Bin Laden aims to overthrow the Saudi government and take control of its oil resources. He wants to destroy the West and install an extremist form of Islam as the dominant power in the world.
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The U.S. supports Israel and other Middle Eastern and Muslim countries as well. The United States fought to protect Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo, and, during the Persian Gulf War, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The U.S. sends huge amounts of foreign aid to Middle East countries, including Egypt, Jordan and
the Palestinians and is the largest provider of humanitarian aid to the Afghan refugees.
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Militant Islam has declared jihad, or holy war, against the West and its values of democracy, freedom and capitalism. The U.S. and European democracies are therefore their primary targets. Israel, as a democracy and close ally of the U.S., is seen as introducing the hated values into the Middle East. Israel is their closest target but not their primary target.
2. Was the September 11th attack meant as a call for more U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process?
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The terrorist attacks on the U.S. were not meant to increase U.S. engagement in the peace process. The aim of the Muslim fundamentalists is the destruction of the State of Israel, not a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
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The lack of progress in the peace process has no connection to the September 11th terrorism. Bin Laden was preparing these very attacks while former Prime Minister Barak was at the Camp David talks in July of 2000, discussing the most generous and far-reaching proposals ever made in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
3. Is Israel's refusal to resume negotiations at this moment with the Palestinian Authority hurting the U.S. coalition efforts?
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Israel is wholly supportive of the U.S.-led war against terrorism and is supporting America in this campaign in any way that it can. Israel has tremendous experience in fighting and preventing terrorism and is consulting closely with the U.S. regarding information and any other assistance requested.
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Despite an ongoing yearlong intifada, Israel has agreed to hold ceasefires with the Palestinian Authority and has declared unilateral ceasefires as well. However, Israel has the right to protect its citizens and has insisted that it cannot hold peace negotiations with the PA as long as it is undermining that peace by perpetrating terrorist attacks. In order to renew negotiations, the PA must first live up to its commitments to end the daily violence and prevent terrorist groups from carrying out their operations.
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The Palestinian Authority has harbored and allowed terrorist groups to operate in violation of the agreements they made with the United States and Israel, using violence as a tool to further their political gains instead of direct negotiations.
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Arab States that are only cooperating with the U.S.-led war on terrorism on the condition that there is pressure on Israel are cynically manipulating this war on terrorism to advance their anti-Israel agenda. They are trying to deflect the attention of their peoples from their own repressive, undemocratic and corrupt regimes, and blame Israel as the cause of Arab suffering.
4. Is the Palestinian terror and violence a reaction to Israeli aggression as occupiers? If Israel would withdraw, would there be no violent attacks?
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Very few Palestinians live in occupied territory. 97% of the Palestinians are under the control of the PA since Israel's redeployment. Israel does not exert military authority over the Palestinians. The PA fully controls all the major Palestinian cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as mandated by the signed agreements. The PA controls 98% of the territory in the Gaza Strip and 40% of the territory in the West Bank, with the remainder to be decided in the negotiations. The Israeli checkpoints exist, in accordance with the agreements, for the purpose of protecting Israeli citizens against terrorism, not in order to control Palestinians.
5. Is the Israeli army using excessive force in response to the Palestinian attacks?
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Israeli soldiers and civilians have been confronted with dozens of life-threatening attacks by the Palestinians every day. These include gunfire directed at residential neighborhoods, firebombings, Molotov cocktails, car bombs, bus bombs, and suicide bombers. The IDF is acting with greatest possible restraint to prevent injury and loss of life. The Palestinians often cynically attack from civilian places and religious shrines, causing injury and loss of life on the part of civilians, including children.
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The IDF is trying very hard not to let the violence explode into an all-out war. Israel is interested in peace, not armed conflict. The IDF is trying to target only those that perpetrate the terrorism. Israel has a responsibility to protect her citizens and will continue to do so while trying to avoid harming civilians to the best of its ability. Unfortunately, there are always innocent victims. As long as the Palestinians send children to the front lines with rocks in their hands, they will continue to be victims.
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Israel has complied with its commitments to the Oslo agreements, including the redeployment of IDF Forces. It is Arafat and the PLO who have consistently violated their commitments. They use the official Palestinian media to constantly incite their people to hate and attack Israelis. Arafat has authorized his own Fatah militia to fire upon Israelis and participate in terrorist attacks. He has released dozens of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, including those who took part in the bus bombings that killed American citizens Alisa Flatow, Sara Ducker, and Matthew Eisenfeld. These released terrorists have resumed their terrorist activities.
6. What were Palestinian reactions to the September 11th terrorist attacks?
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Palestinians danced in the streets and passed out candy in order to celebrate the horrific terrorist attacks that killed thousands.
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Hamas-led Palestinian groups staged large, formal protests in support of Osama Bin Laden and his war against the West.
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Polls cited by official PA newspapers reported that 73% of Palestinians support suicide missions against American interests in the Middle East, and more than 76% opposed participation in the coalition against terrorism.
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Fifty percent of Palestinians believe that the September 11th attacks were the result of a Jewish plot, according to an October 24, 2001 poll released by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion.
7. Is there a distinction between terrorism against Israel and terrorism against other countries?
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There is no absolutely no distinction between Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and the other terrorist organizations and Al Qaeda. All these terrorist groups are networked. They support and raise funds for each other and all are committed to the same goals. There is no such thing as a good terrorist or a politically acceptable terrorist. Terror is terror and must be fought in all its manifestations. False distinctions between terrorist groups that target Americans and those that target Israelis must be stopped.
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