Dr. Aaron Lerner is co-founder of IMRA, Independent Media Review and Analysis, an Israel-based news organization which provides an extensive digest of media, polls and significant interviews and events relating to the Israeli-Arab conflict. imra@netvision.net.il
Hamas' rise offers Israel a chance to correct past policy mistakes
By Dr. Aaron Lerner
February 17, 2006
Hamas' rise to power offers Israel the opportunity to correct past policy mistakes.
But only if it acts quickly against the Hamas terror entity.
When Oslo was first launched, the Israelis leaders involved genuinely believed that the only armed Palestinian group this side of the Jordan River would be a relatively small and lightly armed Palestinian police force.
Today the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are teeming with various Palestinian armies -- both official and illegal.
With the PA now officially lead by the terrorist Hamas movement, and thus the Palestinian security forces also ultimately officially acting in the service of Hamas, Israel has every justification in the world to impose a blanket "no rifle" rule in West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A rule enforced by a shoot to kill policy. Any time. Anywhere.
When Fatah ruled the PA. U.S. Secretary of State Rice pressed Israel to give the Palestinians the final say as to who and what could cross between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Israel now has every justification to insist that this reckless arrangement be dropped.
As the "second intifada" winded down, the Sharon team accepted a ceasefire that allowed the illegal Palestinian armies to arm and train as long as they didn't shoot [too much] with the expectation that ultimately the PA itself would address the problem.
Hamas' rise to power puts an end to this fantasy.
It may not be easy for Israel to clear out the terrorist armies that blossomed during the security hiatus -- but it would be considerably more costly to allow them to remain.
Mr. Olmert's campaign advisors apparently believe that some announcements relating to future funds transfers and tightening restriction on movement will suffice in the eyes of the Israeli voters.
But the purpose of the exercise at this critical time is not simply to avoid dropping too many points in the public opinion polls. It must be to restore the balance that has been so dangerously disturbed.
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