Jerusalem Cloakroom #123

by Yoram Ettinger
yoramtex@netvision.net.il

June 18, 2002  

1. PLO-HARBORED/INCITED/LED "PALESTINIAN TERROR DE JOUR" (at least 19 bus riders murdered on June 17, 2002!) raises the obvious questions: Is it MORALLY conceivable for the US to treat a “Palestinian terror de jour” in a strikingly different manner than it would treat a “terror de jour” reality on US soil?! Shouldn’t Israel display AT LEAST AS MUCH JUSTIFIABLE FEROCITY in its response to Palestinian terrorism headquartered in its own backyard, AS HAS BEEN DISPLAYED BY THE US, in its battle against Islamic terrorism, based 7,000 miles away from the mainland?!
    

2. Would the President follow the CYNICAL policy of Foggy Bottom toward Israel (PRESSURING AN ALLY IN DISTRESS, while appeasing, rather than decimating, terrorist regimes and organizations) or will the President stick to his own VALUES AND PRINCIPLES and to his JUNE 1, 2002 WEST POINT ADDRESS (No agreement with despots who violate agreements; Confronting evil regimes solves, rather than creates, problems; War on terrorism is won via offensive, rather than defensive, reactive or deterrence tactics).
    

3. EACH ONE OF THE RECENT US INITIATIVES (Powell, Zini, Tenet visits and US references to Palestinian statehood) HAS FUELED (INADVERTENTLY) PALESTINIAN TERRORISM, resulting in UNPRECEDENTED JEWISH BLOODSHED.
    

4. WHY WOULD PRESIDENT BUSH ASPIRE TO CONCLUDE ANOTHER AGREEMENT WITH THE PLO, WHICH HAS SYSTEMATICALLY AND VIOLENTLY VIOLATED EACH AGREEMENT concluded with the US, Arab countries and Israel. Has the US ignored the treacherous PLO track record (at least) since 1993?!
    

5. PLO TERRORISM HAS BEEN ENERGIZED by US annual financial assistance, by US training of PLO “security” (terrorist) personnel, by US pressure on Israel, and by US efforts on behalf of Palestinian statehood.
    

6. ISRAEL AND THE US ARE FIGHTING A MUTUAL THREAT. Appeasing the PLO (e.g. talking about a provisional Palestinian State) reflects vacillation, rather than determination, in the battle against the mutual threat - Islamic/Arab/Palestinian terrorism.
    

7. The US wouldn’t talk with Taliban/Al-Qaeda, wouldn’t consider a compromise with terrorists. The President doesn’t aspire to reduce the fire of Al-Qaeda’s terrorism; he - rightly - intends to obliterate Taliban/Al-Qaeda. President Bush has stated that there are no good or bad terrorists, and that those who harbor terrorists shall be treated like terrorists. WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ISRAEL’S BATTLE AGAINST PLO TERRORISM?!
   
   WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE WASHINGTON’S VALUES, PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIC INTERESTS?!