The
Toll
26 innocent people in Israel were brutally murdered in cold blood
and at least 175 wounded by Palestinian terrorists, all within 14 hours, during
the weekend of December 1-2, 2001.
This is the equivalent, on a proportional
basis, of 1,200 American deaths and 8,000 wounded.
Those
Responsible
· In September 2000, Arafat rejected negotiation and
instead launched Intifada 2. He has the responsibility for the wave of violence
and terrorism that has followed.
· Arafat and the Palestinian Authority
(PA) provide cover and sanctuary for the largest coalition of terrorist groups
from the Middle East to Afghanistan. Among them are Hamas and the Islamic Jihad,
perpetrators of the latest outrages.
· There is clear evidence of
Arafat's complicity in and responsibility for the Palestinian violence. Despite
their clear obligation under the Oslo accords to police terrorists and to imprison
those accused of planning as well as those who have performed terrorist acts,
the PA's "counter-terrorism efforts" have been "for show only".
The "arrest" of terrorists has been no more than a charade of revolving
doors.
· As US Secretary of State Powell said following last week's
terror attacks: "The moment of truth is upon us. Arafat must now choose to
which camp he belongs - that of the terrorists or that of the peacemakers."
Israel's
Response
· Prime Minister Sharon stated: "A war has been forced
upon us. A war of terror. A war that claims innocent victims daily. ... The aim
of this war of terror … is to expel us from here…to bring us to total
despair, a loss of hope, and a loss of the national vision, which leads us as
"A free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem. … This will
not happen."
· On Dec 3, 2001, the government of Israel announced
the Palestinian Authority as an entity that supports terrorism; and the Tanzim
and Force 17 as terrorist organizations. The government is acting against them
accordingly.
· Israel, like the United States, refuses to negotiate
with terrorists.
· Israel is therefore, as is its clear responsibility,
taking all steps necessary to prevent further attacks in Israel and to protect
its citizens
· Israel is seeking an end to terrorism, not an end to
the peace process. Prime Minister Sharon has stated his acceptance of the need
to make 'painful compromises' for peace and a willingness to negotiate the establishment
of a Palestinian state. However, terrorism can never be rewarded with concessions.
The
United States Position
· President Bush: " And in my statement
yesterday to the world I said it's now time for Mr. Arafat to prove whether or
not he is for peace. And the way he can do that is to aggressively root out those
who would derail the peace process by murdering innocent Israelis - innocent women,
innocent children. And now is the time for him to step up and lead; he must show
that behind his words of peace there is action. Because now is the time. We need
action."
· Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld: "I think that
a country that is that small does not have a big margin for error. It is impossible
to defend against terrorists in every place, at every moment, against every technique.
The only way you can do that is to take the battle to them. And therefore, you
use the word "retaliation." I don't think of it as retaliation. I think
of it as self-defense."