|
The news of the attack on World Trade Center was delivered to the
Israeli government in the midst of a cabinet meeting regarding the
fate of Yassir Arafat. According to one Israeli reporter (Ben Kaspit,
Maariv 9/14/01) the cabinet members were discussing what's best
for Israel: deporting Arafat, bringing about a collapse of the Palestinian
Autonomy, re-conquering the territories under Palestinian control,
or maintaining the situation as is.
Support
Analogies
- "Now they'll understand, at last, what we're going through"
(one of PM Sharon's close assistants, Maariv 9/14)
- "Arafat is our Bin-Laden" (PM Sharon in a phone call to
President Bush)
- "...The Israeli PR campaign adapts to the reality created by
the US events. According to The IDF spokesman [Hebrew] statement
"two terrorist were killed in a fire exchange". This is the first
usage of the term "Terrorists" ["TERORISTIM"] - replacing the
previous [Hebrew] words" MEHABLIM", "MEFAGIM" or "Terror Activists"
["PEILEY TEROR"]..." (Amos Harel and Amira Hass. Excerpt, Ha'arez,
printed edition 9/13/20001)
- "...Leaders of local movements and organizations must now declare
anew their position. Are they part of global terrorism through
their acceptance of local terror as a legitimate method, or are
they part of those fighting terror as it is now understood and
defined in light of the destroyed American buildings? Among those
who must make this decision is Yassir Arafat, who must decide
whether he is prepared to withdraw his support for all terrorist
organizations and acts of terror carried out in the name of the
legitimate Palestinian desire for independence and an end to the
occupation. Is he prepared to return to the path of the struggle
for peace, to the rational confrontation that is acceptable between
states? Or will he continue to supply pretexts, direct or indirect,
for the terrorists to use as they wish to conduct the struggle
- and thus to sully the name of the entire Palestinian movement
as a producer of terrorism?.." (Excerpt, "Opportunity for clarification"
editorial, Haarez on-line 9/16/2001)
- "...Until This morning USA was heaven on earth. A country into
which a Saudi, Egyptian or Afghan can come, rent a house in Florida
and nobody would ask him what is he doing there, as long as he
pays the rent and does not bother the neighbors. Questions like
the ones Israeli neighbors ask seem to the Americans as intrusion
and violation of the freedom of the individual...In a speech to
the nation Bush acknowledged that a war is going on. But in the
hours and days after the attack America still asks itself who
is the enemy. And this is exactly the president's problem after
he swore in front of every possible microphone that America will
take care of the Terrorists. The American public, like the Israeli
public, wants "action", and immediately...The Americans understand
now that they can't sit still. It is no longer about a theoretical
threat. Two oceans can't protect the population any more. The
feeling in the USA right now is like the feeling in Israel: no
more front and rear. Everybody is a soldier. Everybody can be
the victim..." (Yzhak
Ben-Horin, Washington. Excerpt, Maariv 9/14/2001)
Gains and Losses
- "Did the attack improve Israel's international standing? (yes/no)"
(poll at MSM Israel website, in collaboration with TV morning
talk show). (Results
of the poll, updated in real time.
The upper bar is for "yes" and the lower is for "no")
- "...The pressure on Sharon came from two different directions.
Representatives from the right wing demanded that he "whack" Arafat,
taking advantage of the historic opportunity promoted by the international
distraction and the general shock. It is now possible, somebody
said, to take Arafat, convert him into Judaism, shave him, teach
him to sing the Israeli national anthem, draft him to the Israeli
secret service , and no one will pay attention. And more seriously,
this is an opportunity to do everything we always wanted but were
afraid to. The world on Tuesday night is not the same as on Tuesday's
morning. Even the Europeans who immersed in wine, cheese and cynicism
will swallow everything...Simon Peres's approach was, of course
different. This is a once in a lifetime chance to catch the bull's
horns and explain to Arafat that this is his last chance to reconsider
his positions. Instead of going on with this useless duel, it
is the time to confront him with a real choice and this time with
massive international support..." (Ben
Kaspit, Excerpt, Maariv 09/14/01)
- "Yesterday Israel took advantage of the total focus of international
attention on the terror attack in the USA in order to execute
the most extensive operation in the territories of the PA since
the advent of the conflict. The number of Palestinians casualties
is 11 ( 9 of them were killed yesterday). Two of the casualties
were seniors in the military arm of the Islamic Jihad. Palestinian
sources conveyed that 70 people were injured in the IDF operation.
No injuries on the Israeli side. (...) Sources in the Israeli
defense forces admitted yesterday that the operation, which started
two days ago, proceeded in its extensive format, in light of events
in the USA. According to them, the government and the American
people will be more tolerant to Israeli actions against terror,
especially given the little attention that the IDF operation received
in the international media..." (Excerpt from Haarez, 09/13/01
Amos Harel and Amira Hass)
- "...Are you saying that what happened in New York will not
affect the magnitude of Israel's response now to terror? That
there will be no influence? - Why should it influence what we
do? To take advantage of the situation now, I don't think that's
right. We have a plan. It is very complicated, very sensitive.
There are a lot of considerations to keep in mind..." (By Herb
Keinon and Avi Hoffman, Interveiw with PM Sharon, The Jerusalem
Post 09/16/01) http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/09/17/Features/Features.34963.html
- "...They were the loveliest (and most irresponsible) days of
our childhoods in school - those days when the teacher was sick.
In the "free hours," we could do whatever we wanted. Forget obligations
like homework, long live freedom. After the first shock of the
terrible tragedy in America, that same feeling spread across Israel.
The teacher's sick. It's our free hour and we can do anything.
Furthermore, the world will finally understand our war against
Palestinian terror. Under cover of the terrible darkness that
descended on the world, there are some in Israel who think we
can beat the Palestinians, and be saved. The first signs of this
way of thinking were evident on the day after the disaster when
the Israel Defense Forces invaded Jenin and Jericho. Israel made
efficient use of the cover of the world's darkness - never before
had an incursion into Area A lasted so long. By the end of the
week, there were 12 people already killed in Jenin, including
a little girl and a woman, and 90 were wounded. A researcher for
B'Tselem, Ghaslan Hahjana, who spent the past days in the besieged
city reported at least 15 houses that were totally demolished,
mostly belonging to civilians. Our forces also conducted operations
in Jericho and there were civilian casualties there, as well.
But nobody paid any attention. In light of the world's silence,
the Israeli government yet could undertake what it has long wanted
to do and didn't dare - elimination of the Palestinian Authority..."
(Excerpt from "When
the cat's away" By Gideon Levy, Haarez, 9/16/01)
Additional Reading
Back to communications
|
