2008 Woodie Awards
Chance to Advance Peace Process
With the Death of Yassir Arafat, New Opportunities Await
Karl de Vries
Issue date: 11/11/04 Section: Opinion
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With the passing of Yassir Arafat as the leader of the Palestinian Authority, and a new leader to take control shortly, the Israelis may begin to negotiate with a Palestinian that is not held back by Arafat's control of the Palestinian security agencies.
The peace process has been ongoing for decades and still there is no concrete agreement that has held together. This is the result of a few factors. The Palestinian Authority lacks the force and the will to confront terrorist organizations operating in its territory.
When the Palestinian Authority had the resources and the infrastructure in place to crack down on terrorist elements in its territory, they delayed. When they had the opportunity and the requirement to disarm terrorist organizations, (one of which Arafat was a member), they refused.
The Palestinians need to receive harsh rebukes from the world for not destroying Hamas and other terrorist organizations in its territory. The Israelis are completely justified assassinating the leaders of Hamas and other terrorist bodies.
That being said, the Israeli army has conducted harsh crackdowns in refugee camps and elsewhere throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip that has, in many cases, been conducted without sympathy for innocent civilians. They have a policy of 'shoot first, ignore later' that has rightly enraged the Palestinians, Israel's neighbors, and most of the world - with the exception of the United States.
The Israeli government's 'security perimeter' around Palestinian territory is both wrong and tragic. In one case, the 'perimeter' completely encircles a Palestinian town, making it a place reminiscent to a Jewish ghetto from the early 40's. Palestinian traffic is limited to and from the town by Israeli security forces, thus reinforcing the image of a ghetto.
Fortunately, in some cases the Israeli Supreme Court overrules the government's planned security perimeter where it has placed too great a burden on local civilians.
The peace process has been ongoing for decades and still there is no concrete agreement that has held together. This is the result of a few factors. The Palestinian Authority lacks the force and the will to confront terrorist organizations operating in its territory.
When the Palestinian Authority had the resources and the infrastructure in place to crack down on terrorist elements in its territory, they delayed. When they had the opportunity and the requirement to disarm terrorist organizations, (one of which Arafat was a member), they refused.
The Palestinians need to receive harsh rebukes from the world for not destroying Hamas and other terrorist organizations in its territory. The Israelis are completely justified assassinating the leaders of Hamas and other terrorist bodies.
That being said, the Israeli army has conducted harsh crackdowns in refugee camps and elsewhere throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip that has, in many cases, been conducted without sympathy for innocent civilians. They have a policy of 'shoot first, ignore later' that has rightly enraged the Palestinians, Israel's neighbors, and most of the world - with the exception of the United States.
The Israeli government's 'security perimeter' around Palestinian territory is both wrong and tragic. In one case, the 'perimeter' completely encircles a Palestinian town, making it a place reminiscent to a Jewish ghetto from the early 40's. Palestinian traffic is limited to and from the town by Israeli security forces, thus reinforcing the image of a ghetto.
Fortunately, in some cases the Israeli Supreme Court overrules the government's planned security perimeter where it has placed too great a burden on local civilians.