- JERUSALEM - While the advisory
finding by the International Court of Justice last week that Israel's barrier
in the West Bank is illegal may be cheered by the terrorists who would
kill Israeli civilians, it does not change the fact that none of the arguments
against the security fence have any merit.
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- First, Israel is not building the fence on territory
that under international law can be properly called "Palestinian land."
The fence is being built in disputed territories that Israel won in a defensive
war in 1967 from a Jordanian occupation that was never recognized by the
international community. Israel and the Palestinians both claim ownership
of this land. According to Security Council Resolution 242, this dispute
is to be resolved by a negotiated peace that provides Israel with secure
and recognized boundaries.
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- Second, the fence is not a permanent political border
but a temporary security barrier. A fence can always be moved.
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- Recently, Israel removed 12 miles of the fence to ease
Palestinian daily life. And last month, Israel's Supreme Court ordered
the government to reroute 20 more miles of the fence for that same purpose.
In fact, the indefensible line on which many have argued the fence should
run " that which existed between Israel and the Arab lands before
the 1967 war " is the only line that would have nothing to do with
security and everything to do with politics. A line that is genuinely based
on security would include as many Jews as possible and as few Palestinians
as possible within the fence.
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- That is precisely what Israel's security fence does.
By running into less than 12 percent of the West Bank, the fence will include
about 80 percent of Jews and only 1 percent of Palestinians who live within
the disputed territories. The fence thus will block attempts by terrorists
based in Palestinian cities to reach major Israeli population centers.
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- Third, despite what some have argued, fences have proven
highly effective against terrorism. Of the hundreds of suicide bombings
that have taken place in Israel, only one has originated from the Gaza
area, where Hamas and Islamic Jihad are headquartered. Why? Because Gaza
is surrounded by a security fence. Even though it is not complete, the
West Bank security fence has already drastically reduced the number of
suicide attacks.
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- The obstacle to peace is not the fence but Palestinian
leaders who, unlike past leaders like Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein
of Jordan, have yet to abandon terrorism and the illegitimate goal of destroying
Israel. Should Israel reach a compromise with a future Palestinian leadership
committed to peace that requires adjustments to the fence, those changes
will be made. And if that peace proves genuine and lasting, there will
be no reason for a fence at all.
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- Instead of placing Palestinian terrorists and those who
send them on trial, the United Nations-sponsored international court placed
the Jewish state in the dock, on the charge that Israel is harming the
Palestinians' quality of life. But saving lives is more important than
preserving the quality of life. Quality of life is always amenable to improvement.
Death is permanent. The Palestinians complain that their children are late
to school because of the fence. But too many of our children never get
to school - they are blown to pieces by terrorists who pass into Israel
where there is still no fence.
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- In the last four years, Palestinian terrorists have attacked
Israel's buses, cafes, discos and pizza shops, murdering 1,000 of our citizens.
Despite this unprecedented savagery, the court's 60-page opinion mentions
terrorism only twice, and only in citations of Israel's own position on
the fence.
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- Because the court's decision makes a mockery of Israel's
right to defend itself, the government of Israel will ignore it. Israel
will never sacrifice Jewish life on the debased altar of "international
justice."
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- Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's finance minister and a
former prime minister.
- Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
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- Comment
- From Anonymous
- for obvious reasons
-
- Netanyahu B.S.
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- Mr. Rense,
-
- I read the story posted on your site in regards to why
Israel needs a fence and
- was blown away by the ridiculous remarks made by this
Netanyahu individual.
- I think the phrase "bull shit" should be replaced
by a new phrase, "Jew Shit".
- Calling the wall that Israel is building a fence is like
calling the sun a light bulb!
-
- Mr. Netanyahu, The International Court's ruling was not
"cheered" only by the "terrorists". It is being cheered
by many around the world who have taken the time to read the many reports
of Israeli attrocities committed against unarmed men women and children
in Palestine. I do not limit my claim of Israeli attrocities against Palestinian
people alone. Your IDF has "murdered" not only unarmed Palestinians
but foreign journalists as well as the dreaded "terrorist" peace
protesters. I suppose you would label these a threat to your citizens as
well? (more J.S.). Warm up the bulldozer Ben! I am curious to know how
your IDF determines which Palestinian is actually a threat. Do you consider
all Palestinians "terrorists" merely because they're of the same
race and as such, (all) are subject to IDF murder squads. Don't bother
answering, we will assume your response is in the affirmative, as Israeli
actions speak volumes.
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- Since Israel cannot seem to support itself without sucking
from the taxes of the American people, perhaps you'd be better off "buying
out" the Palestinians, seeing as how the Americans would pay for it
anyway. Oh, you couldn't have peace! Then one of your excuses to keep squeezing
the corrupt and sold out U.S. Congress would be gone. Maybe you should
continue blaming the rock throwing "terrorists" and build your
"fence". Perpetuate the madness and bilk the suckers in the U.S.
of the living (they've) worked for. Peace in the west bank means a U.S.
money tit has dried up for Israel doesn't it..... Humm? Well, at least
one of them. Israel has a handful of U.S. tit's and is pulling as we know.
-
- Do not assume that because Israel has control (over)
the political vermin in D.C., that all Americans are willing to support
your "terrorist" activities, or even believe your ridiculous
op-ed in the (discredited) N.Y. Times.
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- How many sniper towers do the Palestinians have? How
many journalists have they sniped? How many peace activists have they
murdered? How many tanks do they have? How many rocket equipped attack
helicopters do they have? Jet aircraft? Nuclear subs? BB guns or sling
shots?
- Do you people plan to turn the Palestinians into slaves
on the other side of the "fence"? Unable to feed themselves except
for the Israeli handouts, but only if their obedient slaves?
-
- You are a pathetic individual. You and the war mongers
like you no matter what country. You and the rest of your murdering bastards
should all be brought up on charges of crimes against humanity. The IDF
is a thug military paid for by the U.S. under the control of a thug. Many
around the world are aware of the list of IDF cadre who've refused to continue
the persecution of the Palestinians.
- Refused to follow the orders of their IDF commanders,
and those individuals should be commended. These soldiers who would not
break with their consciences are a credit to the Jewish people. The U.S.
service men and women committing horrible acts in Iraq (that they'll have
to live with forever), could and should learn much from those honorable
people.
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- Your rant is so insulting that it does not warrant a
point by point rebuttal. If yours is the mentality of those who are "negotiating"
for peace, then it's obvious, there will not be peace.
- You claim that "Israel will never sacrifice Jewish
life on the debased altar of International Justice". It seems though,
you are more than willing to sacrifice truth on the mighty altar of Jewish...."Bull
Shit"!
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- With Contempt,
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- Anonymous (for obvious reasons)
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- Thanks Mr. Rense, for keeping us informed,
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