Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

The Conflict

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True and lasting peace can only be achieved by a negotiated settlement. However, for negotiations to have a chance to succeed, Palestinian terrorism must end.

Over the past three years, Israel has been subjugated to a wave of terrorism that has killed over 900 and injured thousands more. Israeli citizens have lived in daily fear of being murdered by suicide bombers, car-bombs and gunmen. Jewish holy sites have been desecrated and destroyed, while Jewish worshippers have been blown up.

The government of Israel has a duty to protect the lives of its citizens. However, the fight against terrorism poses a difficult dilemma for Israel. As a democratic state, Israel must strive to find the proper balance between its imperative security needs and its desire to uphold the democratic values and freedoms its holds dear. Finding this balance is never an easy task for any democracy under fire. Israel's task is made all the much harder given that the Palestinian terrorists it faces have no respect either for human life or for the rule of law. They not only target Israeli citizens; they also hide behind the Palestinian civilian population, confident that any Palestinian casualties will be blamed on Israel, no matter which side is responsible.

In order to fight terrorism effectively, while attempting to minimize harm to the local Palestinian population, Israel has employed a variety of defensive methods. Passive security measures, which include roadblocks and curfews as well as the security fence, are aimed at limiting the free movement of terrorists.

Unfortunately, the daily lives of many Palestinians have also been affected by these measures. However, the difficulties caused by the security fence or roadblocks, as regrettable as they are, cannot compare to the irreversible harm to innocent lives caused by terrorism.

Active security measures against the terrorists are taken when more passive measures do not suffice. Even then, Israel makes every effort to minimize harm to bystanders. Israel has consistently attempted to limit its use of military force. For example, it waited 18 months before beginning any large-scale military operations against terrorism. That took place only after near daily suicide bombings in March 2002, culminating in the Passover eve massacre, left Israel with no choice.

It is never easy for a democratic country to fight terrorism. This mission is made more difficult when that state is subjected to international pressure to conform to impossible standards. Almost every defensive measure taken by Israel - whether it involves passive security measures, legal steps or proportionate and necessary military action - has met with international criticism. Israel will continue to uphold its democratic values; however, it must also protect the lives of its innocent civilians.

One-sided and unfair international criticism of Israel only encourages more Palestinian terrorism. Despite their commitments to the contrary, the Palestinians have yet to abandon their armed struggle. The chances of achieving peace would be increased if the international community were to respect Israel's right to self-defense while simultaneously making clear to the Palestinian leadership the futility of terrorism. International pressure on states that sponsor and assist Palestinian terrorism should be applied and the funds to terrorist organizations should be cut off. Only when the Palestinians finally abandon terrorism and truly commit to solving political disputes by negotiation can peace be possible.

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Instead of educating for peace, as Israel does, the Palestinian leadership has encouraged its youth to take an active role in the violence. Instead of making every effort to protect all the children, as Israel does, the Palestinian terrorists have deliberately targeted Israeli young people.

Israel is devoted to educating its children for tolerance and coexistence, teaching them to respect all peoples in accordance with Israel's democratic values and ideals. Israeli children are taught in their schools and via the media that the pursuit of peace is the highest calling. Israel believes that the key to a true and lasting peace lies in educating the next generation of both Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side.

In contrast, the Palestinian Authority has deliberately created a culture of hatred that encourages Palestinian children to take an active role in violent activities. It has trained young people in the use of weapons and created an atmosphere that prepares them to become suicide bombers. Most casualties among Palestinian youngsters have occurred due to their direct participation in the violence or as the result of Israel's confrontations with terrorists who hide among the Palestinian population. The Palestinian Authority has not attempted to safeguard Palestinian children from harm, rather it has chosen to use them as a propaganda tool.

Shaked Avraham, murdered during the Jewish New Year holiday meal (26 September 2003) Photo of a Palestinian baby dressed as a suicide bomber found in Hebron (June 2002)

Palestinian Authority schools, summer camps, mosques and official media have all participated in creating this culture of hate. The cynical use of children as pawns in the conflict begins in the education system. Instead of educating children for peace, as Israel does, Palestinian textbooks openly teach hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Educational facilities are used to inspire hero-worship of suicide bombers, psychologically preparing Palestinian children to follow in their footsteps. Children are given weapons to carry in anti-Israel rallies or are dressed up as suicide bombers. Youth groups and official PA summer camps teach young people to become holy warriors, actually training them in the use of firearms.

This cult of martyrdom has inspired Palestinian children to take an increasingly active role in the violence. The average age of suicide bombers has dropped and attacks carried out by teenagers have become more and more frequent. Younger children, some no more than toddlers, have been used to provide cover for the transportation of weapons and explosives.

The Palestinian Authority's manipulation of children, which has been extensively documented by the media, constitutes a reprehensible violation of every international treaty and convention meant to protect children in situations of armed conflict. The PA's heinous exploitation of children is both profoundly immoral and fundamentally illegal.

©Flash 90  Young girl injured in suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus No. 2 in Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood (19 August 2003)

Targeting children in terrorist attacks also violates international laws and norms. Hundreds of Israeli children have been killed and wounded in numerous terrorist attacks over the decades. They were not incidental victims of the violence, but were the intended and preferred victims of the Palestinian terrorists. Israeli children have been deliberately targeted by Palestinian snipers and roadside bombs. Youngsters were bludgeoned and stoned to death by terrorists while hiking near their homes. Suicide bombers have murdered more than 70 children since September 2000, choosing to strike at places where young people are known to congregate - discos, bus stops, fast-food restaurants and shopping malls. These suicide terrorists stood face-to-face with their young victims, including babies, before deciding to detonate their explosives. In one of the most horrendous terror attacks - the suicide bombing of a Jerusalem bus on August 19, 2003 - 7 of the dead and 40 of the injured were children.

The suffering of any child is tragic and regretful, and Israel believes that every effort must be made to protect all children - Israeli and Palestinian - from the violence. Palestinian schools and media must stop preaching incitement to violence and hatred, and join Israel in teaching the next generation to live in peace.

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As long as the Palestinian Authority does nothing to stop the terrorist attacks, Israel has no choice but to act to prevent them, including by means of targeted counter-terrorism operations. Under international law, individuals who actively take part in hostilities are legitimate military targets.

In its signed agreements with Israel, the Palestinian Authority undertook to stop all violence, arrest terrorists, dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, collect illegal weapons and end incitement to violence. Yet in the more than a decade that has passed since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the PA has done nothing to fulfill its obligation, but instead has actively encouraged and supported terrorism. This terrorism has deliberately targeted civilians for murder. The inaction of the Palestinian Authority in the face of widespread terrorist activity in the areas under its control, coupled with its active support of this violence, have left Israel with no alternative but to take itself the necessary action to prevent terrorist attacks.

Still, over the past three years, Israel's security forces have been faced with an untenable dilemma - how to uphold Israel's democratic values and the rules of armed warfare while fighting terrorists who are willing to violate every norm of civilized behavior. Israel has desperately searched for ways to effectively stop terrorists, who are hiding among the Palestinian population, without harming innocent Palestinians.

Whenever possible, Israeli operations are directed toward apprehending terrorists and their accomplices, and bringing them to justice. In a small minority of cases, arrests are impossible, primarily due to the fact that the terrorist operatives and their ringleaders are given refuge in the heart of PA controlled areas. When this happens and when there is a clear terrorist threat, Israel has had to undertake preventive measures, including targeted counter-terrorism operations aimed at stopping terrorists from perpetrating attacks.

International law, in general, and the law of armed conflict, in particular, recognize that individuals who directly take part in hostilities cannot then claim immunity. By initiating and participating in armed attacks, such individuals have designated themselves as combatants and have forfeited such legal protection. In terrorist organizations such as the Hamas and Islamic Jihad, there is no true division between the so-called political arm and the military arm - leaders from all parts of the organization are actively involved in ordering and planning terrorist attacks, and, therefore, can be considered legitimate military targets. By the same token, an individual who becomes a combatant is considered to remain a combatant until hostilities come to an end and not merely during that exact instant when the individual is carrying out an attack.

For more than three years, Israeli civilians and soldiers alike have had to face thousands of organized, violent and life-threatening attacks, only a small percentage of which have been reported in the media. These attacks have included suicide bombings, shootings, violent riots, lynchings, fire-bombings, roadside ambushes, mortar barrages, and car bombs directed at civilian targets. The Palestinians have also attempted - but fortunately failed - to carry out acts of "mega-terrorism," including attempted attacks on the the Pi Glilot gas and fuel storage facility near Tel Aviv and the truck bombing of Tel Aviv's largest skyscrapers. To date, over 900 Israelis have been killed and thousands wounded as a result of this violence.

Under these difficult conditions, the Israel Defense Forces have acted with the greatest possible restraint, taking action only when inaction by Israel would have resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Israel always strives to use the minimum force necessary to prevent terrorism, acting in compliance with the principles and practice of armed conflict. It takes care to target only those responsible for the violence, and makes every effort to avoid the involvement of innocent civilians. In contrast, Palestinian terrorists deliberately target innocent civilians and use weapons designed to cause the greatest possible injury and death.

The Israeli government regrets the loss of any life, whether Jewish or Arab, in the present wave of violence. Terrorist attacks have both taken innocent lives and gravely wounded the peace process. Terrorism remains the primary obstacle to peace and it is imperative that the violence ends so that both parties can return to constructive negotiations. A just and sustainable solution can be found only through dialogue, not armed conflict. However, while the terrorism continues, Israel has an indisputable responsibility to act in self-defense and protect its citizens.

In the final analysis, responsibility for all the casualties lies with the Palestinian leadership, which has initiated the violence and refuses to bring it to an end. Were Palestinian violence and terrorism to end, Israel would have no reason to take preventive countermeasures.

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Under the first phase of the Roadmap, the Palestinian Authority is obligated to end terrorism by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, confiscating illegal weapons and arresting those involved in planning and carrying out acts of terror. The "hudna," however, was an internal Palestinian arrangement, which the Palestinian Authority used as a means for avoiding its obligations under the Roadmap to fight terrorism.

The "hudna" was used by the terrorist organizations themselves, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as a tactical ploy for gaining time to build up their strength for the next round of terrorist attacks. The "hudna" was a cover for the Palestinian terror organizations to plan new terror attacks, dig tunnels for smuggling in weapons, increase the range of the Kassam rockets, as well as to regroup and train their forces.

While interpreted abroad as a ceasefire, the term "hudna" was seen by the Palestinian terror groups and their supporters in the Arab world as a mere tactical truce in keeping with Islamic history. In the year 628, when the prophet Mohammed considered his forces to be too weak to overcome the rival Kuraysh tribes, he concluded with them a ten-year truce ("hudna") referred to as the Hudaybiya accord. Less than two years later, having consolidated their power, the Muslim forces attacked the Kuraysh tribes and defeated them, thereby enabling Mohammed to conquer Mecca. Since that time, Muslims have understood "hudna" to mean a tactical truce intended to allow a favorable shift in the balance of power. Once that occurred, the truce could be broken. It was, therefore, no coincidence that the Palestinian terror groups adopted the term "hudna."

©Sasson Tiram  The remains of carnage: the suicide bombing of Jerusalem bus No. 2 in Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood (19 August 2003)

Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared that their "hudna" would last three months, while Fatah declared a six-month "hudna." Yet, they did not wait even that long to renew terrorism. Since the "hudna" was declared in late June, and even before the mid-August suicide bombing of a Jerusalem bus, six Israelis and one foreign national were murdered in terrorist attacks, 28 civilians were injured; 180 terror attacks in all took place, including 120 shootings; 40 terror attacks were thwarted by Israel. The bus bombing in Jerusalem on August 19 claimed an additional 23 lives, 7 of them children, while 136 were injured, including 40 children. It was clear that the Palestinian terrorist organizations never had a real ceasefire in mind, let alone an end to terrorism.

Israel has, consequently, declared that it will not accept a new "hudna." Only by fulfilling the requirements of the Roadmap, i.e. dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and organizations as well as put an end to incitement, will the Palestinians meet their obligations and commitments.

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The security fence currently being built between the Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli population centers is a defensive measure. It is designed to prevent terrorists from carrying out attacks in Israel. The fence does not annex any territory to Israel, nor does it establish any borders. Its path was chosen in accordance with security and topographic considerations, while every effort has been made to minimize disruption to the daily lives of the local Palestinian population.

©Sasson Tiram  (Powerpoint)

Since September 2000, a large majority of the Palestinian terrorist attacks that took the lives of over 900 Israelis have emanated from the West Bank. Palestinian centers of terrorism are often located within short walking distance of Israeli centers of population. Israel has been searching for ways to prevent the infiltration of terrorists and their weapons into its towns and cities. The decision to establish the security fence was taken only after other options were tried, but failed to stop the deadly terrorist attacks.

The security fence is a defensive measure whose sole purpose is to place a physical barrier in the path of terrorists and prevent their infiltration into Israel. A similar fence already exists in Gaza - built in accordance with the 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement between Israel and the PLO - and it has a proven record of successfully preventing terrorist attacks.

The establishment of the security fence is consistent with international law. Moreover, the Roadmap peace initiative does not restrict the deployment of defensive measures such as the security fence. Indeed, since terrorism has been the greatest obstacle to peace, it is hoped that by preventing terrorist attacks, the security fence will contribute to the search for peace.

The security fence forms a strip approximately the width of a four-lane highway. At its center is a chain-link fence that supports an intrusion detection system. This technologically advanced system is designed to warn against infiltrations, as is the dirt "tracking" path and other observation tools. Despite the many pictures being shown in the international media of a tall concrete wall, most of the security fence (approximately 95%) will consist of this chain-link fence system.

In addition to its efforts to ensure the security of its citizens, Israel attaches considerable importance to the interests of the local Palestinian residents. Israel recognizes the necessity of finding an appropriate balance between the imperative need to prevent terrorism and the humanitarian needs of local residents.

Most significantly, the security fence does not attempt to mark in any way any future border - an issue reserved for negotiations between the sides. It is also important to note that the security fence area does not annex any land to the State of Israel. No particular preference was given to using land in the West Bank itself, and indeed, in certain sections, the security fence is being built within Israel's pre-1967 lines. The fence does not change the status of Palestinian lands, their ownership or the status of the residents of these areas. Only a small number of Palestinian villages will be included on the western side of the security fence. Their residents will not have to relocate and their legal status will remain unchanged.

Israel has made the use of public lands a priority in building the security fence, in order to avoid, as far as possible, the requisition of private lands. If this is not possible, then private land is requisitioned, not confiscated, and it remains the property of the owner. When private lands are used, owners are offered full compensation, in accordance with the law. Legal procedures are already in place to allow every owner to file an objection to the use of their land.

Regarding agriculture, the security fence was located, to the greatest possible degree, on unused land, and every attempt is made to avoid separating owners from their property. In circumstances where such separation is unavoidable, special gates are being built, allowing farmers access to their fields. Other steps have also been taken, such as the replanting of trees affected by the construction.

The Palestinian claim that the security fence was established in a deliberate attempt to limit their rights is totally baseless. Israel has made every effort to ensure that the security fence causes as little disruption to daily life as possible given the security situation.

Moreover, this claim endeavors to blame Israel, the victim of terrorism, for taking a purely defensive measure while ignoring the profound threat to human life posed by the Palestinian terrorism that emanates from the West Bank. There would have been no need for a security fence had there not been an orchestrated campaign of terrorism that targets Israeli men, women and children.

The only motivation for establishing the security fence is Israel's desire to protect innocent lives.

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Israel had made substantial efforts since the signing of the Oslo accords to facilitate Palestinian-Israeli economic cooperation in the context of the peace process. As a result, there had been a marked expansion of Palestinian trade and employment in Israel, as well as other forms of economic cooperation from 1994 until the outbreak of the present violence.

Israel, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, had undertaken a broad range of actions since 1994 in order to promote and improve the free movement of goods and workers from the Palestinian Authority areas into Israel. In addition, industrial parks had been set up in the Palestinian Authority, involving substantial Israeli investment and economic incentives. These measures had a significant, positive impact on the Palestinian economy.

Unfortunately, the violence and terrorism have led to a sharp decline in economic activity in the area, with economic repercussions for both the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

The government of Israel is seeking to stabilize the situation in the territories, and to ease conditions for those living there. Israel has no desire to burden the Palestinian civilian population not involved in terrorism and violence.

Nevertheless, the acute security threat presented by Palestinian terrorism makes some measures unavoidable, if Israel is to fulfill its duty as a sovereign state to safeguard the lives of its citizens. A security fence is being built along the West Bank to prevent terrorist infiltration. Travel restrictions have been put into effect to stop terrorists from reaching their targets. The passage of Palestinians from the PA areas into Israel has also been limited, so as to prevent the spillover of violence and terrorism into Israeli cities. These measures, and additional precautions such as roadblocks, are designed to hinder the movement of terrorists and explosives, thereby saving innocent lives.

Exceptions to the restrictions have been made for the movement of commercial goods, food, medicine, medical crews and ambulances, which continue to circulate as freely as possible (given Palestinian use of ambulances to transport wanted terrorists and weapons). Moreover, procedures have been simplified to enable speedy delivery of humanitarian goods, such as medical supplies, to the Palestinian Authority.

Unfortunately, terrorists have used every Israeli attempt to ease restrictions on Palestinian daily life as an opportunity to renew their attacks on Israeli citizens.

It is Israel's policy to differentiate as much as possible between those perpetrating, aiding and directing terrorist activities, and the civilian population which is uninvolved in terrorism. When calm prevails in a particular area, improvements can be implemented there independently of other areas. Consequently, the impact of events on the local civilian population is dependent, more than any other factor, on the level of terrorist activity in any particular area.

It must be stressed that the purpose of the security precautions is not to unduly burden the Palestinian population, but rather to ensure the security of Israeli citizens facing daily threats to their very lives. The end to these restrictions, like peace itself, is dependent on an end to the violence and terrorism.

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The immediate cause of the plight of Palestinian refugees was the Arab leadership's rejection of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 of 1947 (which would have partitioned the British Mandate area into two states) and the war they then started in the hope of destroying Israel. During the hostilities, many Arabs abandoned their homes, whether following calls from Arab leaders to avoid hindering the progress of their advancing armies or out of fear.

With few exceptions, almost all the Arabs who left did so voluntarily, ignoring Israel's calls (including in its Declaration of Independence) to stay in Israel. Those who chose to remain in Israel after 1948 became Israeli citizens.

The fate of the Palestinian refugees who chose to leave stands in sharp contrast to that of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab countries following the establishment of the State of Israel. These Jewish refugees - a number similar to the Palestinian refugees of this period - were integrated into Israeli society, despite the heavy burden this placed on its developing economy.

The Arab states (with the notable exception of Jordan) have deliberately perpetuated the Palestinian refugee problem, exploiting it as a weapon in their struggle against Israel. From 1948 to the present day, the refugees have largely been confined to crowded camps as a matter of policy. The Arab regimes, including the oil-rich states, have chosen to invest in supporting terrorism, making little attempt to help rehabilitate the lives of the refugees. This policy was pursued in order to gain international sympathy for the Palestinian cause, at the expense of the Palestinians themselves.

Since Israel is neither at fault for the creation of the refugee problem nor for its perpetuation, it should not be asked to take upon itself responsibility for this problem.

The international community has played a role in perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem. It has averted efforts to resettle the refugees, as is the international norm. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, responsible for finding permanent homes for all refugee groups around the world, does not do so for the Palestinians. Instead, a special agency was set up to handle Palestinian refugees. This organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), operates solely to maintain and support the Palestinians in refugee camps.

The international community has yielded to political pressure from Arab regimes and in effect granted the Palestinians an exception from the internationally accepted definition of a refugee under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol which make no mention of descendants. According to this exception - which has never been granted to any other population - all the generations of descendants of the original Palestinian refugees are also considered refugees. This means that the vast majority of Palestinian refugees who demand to immigrate to Israel have never actually lived within the borders of Israel. Moreover, the exceptional definition of refugees in the Palestinian case includes any Arab who lived in the area that became Israel for just two years before leaving.

These exemptions have inflated the number of Palestinian refugees and allowed it to expand over the years from the hundreds of thousands to the millions. Currently, the population of Israel is just over 6.7 million, of which 19% are Arab Israelis. The mass immigration of millions of Palestinians into Israel would obliterate Israel's basic identity as the homeland of the Jewish people and a refuge for persecuted Jews. Consequently, the demand to live in Israel is nothing more than a euphemism for the demographic destruction of the Jewish State.

Palestinian leaders and spokespersons frequently claim that the Palestinians have a legal right to immigrate to Israel. In actuality, no such right has been included in the agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors, nor is it recognized in international law or the relevant UN resolutions.

None of the agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors mention a claim of "return." Indeed, during the peace process, both the Israelis and the Palestinians agreed that the question of refugees was a matter for negotiations, one to be resolved as part of a permanent settlement between the sides.

In international law, the principle of return is addressed in relevant human rights treaties. However, the principle only deals with individuals (not an entire people) and as a rule, governments have limited the right to reenter a state to nationals of that state.

The Palestinians falsely assert that their claim is based on UN resolutions, most specifically paragraph 11 of General Assembly Resolution 194. Nonetheless, the General Assembly is not a law-making body and General Assembly resolutions on political matters do not create legally binding obligations.

When referring to General Assembly Resolution 194, a number of additional points are relevant. This was an attempt by the UN in 1948 to bring the sides to negotiations by making recommendations regarding a number of key issues (Jerusalem, borders, refugees, etc.). This attempt failed to achieve results and was later supplanted by UN Security Council Resolution 242. Only one paragraph in 194 discusses refugees. That paragraph does not contain a single reference to any rights, but rather merely recommends that refugees should be permitted to return. It is illogical to demand implementation of a single sentence independently of the rest of the resolution. Additionally, the resolution sets specific preconditions and limits for return, foremost amongst them that the refugees must be willing to live in peace with their neighbors. The support among the Palestinian population for the wave of terrorism that began in September 2000, as well as at other times in the past, appears to preclude this possibility.

UN Security Council Resolution 242 (adopted in 1967 after the Six Day War and considered to be a cornerstone of the peace process) reinforced Israel's position by again omitting any reference to a "right of return," or even to General Assembly Resolution 194. Instead, 242 confines itself to affirming the necessity "for achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem."

The Palestinian claim of unlimited immigration to Israel is a political ploy made by those who do not want Israel to exist. It is disingenuous that the Palestinians are simultaneously appealing for a state of their own while calling for the right to freely immigrate to yet another state, Israel. By continuing to demand a "right" that would, in effect, negate the basic identity of Israel, the Palestinian leadership is undermining prospects for peace.

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Any political gains made by the Palestinians through the use of terrorist violence will contribute to the proliferation of terrorism across the globe. Rewarding terrorism serves only to invite others in the Middle East and elsewhere to use similar tactics. The success of Palestinian terrorism would also encourage the further radicalization of Arab and Muslim populations made all too vulnerable to extremism by failed socio-economic conditions within their own states and ideologies that encourage hatred and violence.

The Arab-Israeli conflict has been used by many in the Middle East to excuse their anti-American, and ultimately anti-Western, activities. Terrorism, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, often targets democratic societies. Studies of suicide terrorism have shown that it is not motivated by despair - rather it is almost always conducted as part of an organized campaign to obtain political or military objectives. Al-Qaeda's attacks on the U.S. were an assault on the ideals of freedom that the United States represents. They were part of bin Laden's plans for a jihad aimed at reshaping the world in accordance with his extremist interpretation of Islam. Although bin Laden's basic goals are unrelated to Israel, attacks on the American people have been exploited by anti-Israeli elements to advance their agenda in the Middle East.

Over several decades, Palestinian violence has played a major role in the development of ever more dangerous forms of terrorism. It was the Palestinians who pioneered the use of terrorist hijackings. Palestinians may not have invented suicide bombers, but they have refined the technique, creating a cult of martyrdom that promotes more suicide bombings. The bombers are revered, their pictures hung in town squares and in schools, relatives are urged not to mourn but to celebrate their deaths, soccer teams are named for them while Palestinian television plays the farewell videos of suicide terrorists over and over again. This phenomenon bodes ill for the next generation, educated to worship these symbols of death and destruction. Children taught from the earliest age to hate, kill and destroy are a tragedy for their own people and a potential danger for others.

Palestinian propaganda blurs the difference between acts of terror that target innocents and defensive countermeasures aimed at stopping terrorists. Justifying any terrorist attack harms the worldwide effort to delegitimize terror and its sponsors.

Palestinian terrorism must not be allowed to succeed. To do so would not only encourage further acts of violence against innocent civilians in Israel, but also increase the chances that the scourge of terrorism will continue to proliferate and increasingly endanger democratic states throughout the world. Denying suicide terrorists their goals is an important step towards stopping the phenomenon of terrorism as a whole.

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Despite Israel's fulfillment of UN Security Council Resolution 425 and its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in June 2000, Hizbollah (backed by Syria and Iran) has flagrantly violated that resolution by continuing to attack Israel. Whether in acts of terrorism, including support given to Palestinian terror groups, the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and civilians, the heartless treatment of Israeli MIAs, the cross-border shellings of northern Israel - Hizbollah continues to keep the Israel-Lebanese border on edge.

Hizbollah is a radical Shiite Moslem terrorist organization that operates in Lebanon. A key pillar of its extremist ideology is its call for the destruction of Israel through jihad (holy war). Hizbollah's ideology comes from Iran; moreover, it receives military, logistical and economic support from both Iran and Syria. In addition to calling for the destruction of Israel, Hizbollah also calls for a struggle against the United States as part of Hizbollah's desire to foment an Islamic revolution and its ambition to turn Lebanon into an Islamic republic like Iran.

Iran, which completely opposes all efforts to achieve peace with Israel and which has supported terrorism to subvert such efforts, as well as seeking to develop its own non-conventional weapons capability, backs Hizbollah to the hilt. Syria, which dominates Lebanon and occupies parts of it, uses Hizbollah as a belligerent instrument against Israel, in order to advance Syria's political and strategic objectives in its own conflict with Israel. Syria also actively supports a number of Palestinian terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and hosts terrorist headquarters and training camps in the Damascus area. Lebanon, too, supports Hizbollah, allowing it to operate against Israel from within Lebanese territory, in direct contradiction to international law.

©Sasson Tiram  Grieving mother holds photo of teenager from Shlomi, Haviv Dadon, 16, who was killed by an anti-aircraft shell fired by Hizbollah terrorists in Lebanon, as he sat with friends.

On many occasions, Hizbollah has bombarded towns in northern Israel. On August 10, 2003 one such bombardment killed a 16-year-old youngster and wounded three others in the town of Shlomi.

Hizbollah's attacks continue to take place in spite of the fact that Israel unilaterally withdrew from Lebanon in June 2000 and thereby fulfilled its commitments according to UN Security Council Resolution 425, as was later confirmed by the UN itself. Israel withdrew to what is called the "blue line," which was delineated by the UN in cooperation with Israel and Lebanon. Israel calls for the removal of Hizbollah forces from the border in southern Lebanon and for the deployment of Lebanese military units along the border, as required by Resolution 425. Hizbollah has developed missile capabilities which endanger areas in northern Israel and, therefore, the dismantling of those missiles is an essential condition for stability and calm.

©Sasson Tiram  Damage caused to a house in Rajar by Hizbollah shelling

Hizbollah gives support to Palestinian terrorist activities and, to various degrees, is involved in them, including through the smuggling of arms, guidance and training. Thus, Hizbollah's activities not only create tension in the north but add fuel to the fire in the Palestinian conflict against Israel.

Hizbollah has, moreover, been involved in acts of terror against western targets, such as the 1983 and 1984 bombings of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, the 1983 bombings of the U.S. marine barracks and French unit of the multinational force in Beirut, the 1984 and 1988 hijackings of Kuwaiti airliners, and the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires as well as the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center there.

©Sasson Tiram  Boy severely injured by the Hizbollah shell that hit his home in Rajar

Thus far, the United Nations and the international community, with few exceptions, have refrained from condemning Hizbollah terrorism. This abject failure extends to muting any criticism of Syria for its support for terrorism, its harboring of terrorist groups, and the blatantly antisemitic statements made by its leader, Bashir Assad.

It is essential that the international community and the United Nations assume their responsibilities and demand of those states that support Hizbollah terrorism that they desist. The international community should clearly condemn Hizbollah's actions as gravely violating UN resolutions, in particular Security Council Resolution 425. Hizbollah should be put on the terrorist list of all countries, as part of the overall international community's struggle against terrorism. The international community should show integrity and condemn countries like Syria and Iran that sponsor terrorism. Lebanon should be called upon to fulfill its obligations as noted by UN Security Council Resolution 425 and recent resolutions on UNIFIL.

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t How can peace be achieved?

Peace can be achieved only through negotiations to bridge gaps and resolve all outstanding issues. For negotiations to be possible and for them to have a chance to succeed, Palestinian terrorism and incitement, supported by Arab countries, must be brought to an end.

Israel has always been willing to compromise and all Israeli governments have been willing to make major sacrifices for the sake of peace. However, peacemaking requires concessions and confidence-building measures on both sides. Just as Israel is willing to address the rights and interests of the Palestinians, Israel has rights and interests that need to be addressed. When in the past, Israel met Arab leaders, like President Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan, who spoke the language of peace to their own people and were willing to take concrete steps for peace, Israel reached agreements with them and peace was achieved.

Only negotiations can lead to peace. Attempts by the Palestinians and the Arab countries to compel Israel to accept Palestinian demands or one-sided UN resolutions promoted by the Arab states will not bring the parties closer to peace. UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, which all parties in the region accepted, provide an important outline for conducting negotiations on a permanent settlement. Israel has also indicated, provided certain important conditions are met, its readiness to implement the measures of the Roadmap. But the Roadmap will work only if the Palestinians fulfill their obligations, something they have not even begun to do, especially when it comes to dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and ending incitement, as required in the first phase of the Roadmap.

Peacemaking requires the creation of a positive atmosphere, one that is free of terrorism and incitement, and one that promotes efforts to achieve mutual understanding. Israel had on many occasions taken steps to help improve Palestinian living conditions and the rehabilitation of the Palestinian economy. Israel has made and is willing to make in the future goodwill gestures as confidence-building measures - such as easing restrictions by removing road barriers, lifting closures, allowing Palestinian workers into Israel, and withdrawing from Palestinian towns. Israel is ready to take these steps provided that Israeli security is not harmed and that the Palestinians do not respond with terrorism.

Positive steps taken by the Arab countries would also help generate a positive atmosphere, as would re-energizing the multilateral contacts and the Barcelona process, both of which seek to promote regional cooperation. Positive movement and cooperation on issues that affect the lives of all who live in the region would contribute psychologically to tackling the difficult political issues that need to be addressed and resolved.

Finally, peace must mean the resolution of all claims and the end of the conflict. Once a peace agreement is reached, a new leaf must be turned and the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel's relationship with all its neighbors must be put on a new footing, one characterized by dialogue and cooperation, rather than by antagonism and confrontation.

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The Roadmap is a performance-based guide that was formulated by the members of the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, Russia and the UN. Israel's acceptance of the Roadmap was accompanied by comments that Israel considers integral to its implementation. The United States committed itself to fully and seriously addressing these comments. Moreover, Israel attaches importance to President Bush's June 24, 2002 vision for achieving peace, as expressed also in the Roadmap. In that speech, President Bush emphasized that achieving the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace requires, as a critical first stage, Palestinian reform and an end to Palestinian terrorism.

Israel's acceptance of the steps of the Roadmap is yet another expression of Israel's willingness to extend its hand toward peace. Indeed the Government's decision reflects a readiness to make profound compromises in order to end the conflict, provided these compromises will not endanger Israel's security in any manner. Furthermore, subject to security conditions, Israel desires to contribute to the improvement of Palestinian life and the rehabilitation of the Palestinian economy.

However, the Roadmap itself and Israel's willingness to move forward require that the Palestinians live up to their obligations at each and every phase. Of critical significance is the requirement in the first phase of the Roadmap that the Palestinians undertake an "unconditional cessation of violence" by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, confiscating weapons, and arresting and disrupting those involved in conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere. The Palestinians must also end incitement. By its own acceptance of the Roadmap, the Palestinian Authority undertook an obligation to end terrorism and incitement in the manner required by the Roadmap. Israel has emphasized that these conditions are essential before progress can be made on moving into the second phase of the Roadmap.

The Government of Israel considers its comments to the Roadmap, along with the American commitment to address these commitments, as key to the implementation of the Roadmap. In addition to Israel's comments regarding the necessity of Palestinian action against terrorism and incitement, the comments also state Israel's non-acceptance of the Palestinian claim regarding the return of refugees. In accepting the steps set out by the Roadmap, the Government of Israel clarified that the resolution of the issue of the refugees will not include their entry into or settlement within the State of Israel.

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Israel has no desire to rule over the Palestinians. While this is an important aspect of Israel's position on the establishment of a Palestinian state, Israel's security and other vital rights and interests also play an important role. Under no circumstances could Israel accept the establishment of a terrorist state on its borders.

In his speech at the June 4, 2003 Aqaba Summit meeting with U.S. President Bush and then Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas, Prime Minister Sharon had the following to say about a Palestinian state:

"Israel, like others, has lent its strong support for President Bush's vision, expressed on June 24, 2002, of two states - Israel and a Palestinian state - living side by side in peace and security. The government and people of Israel welcome the opportunity to renew direct negotiations according to the steps of the roadmap as adopted by the Israeli government to achieve this vision."

It is in Israel's interest not to govern the Palestinians but for the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state. A democratic Palestinian state fully at peace with Israel will promote the long-term security and well-being of Israel as a Jewish state. We can also reassure our Palestinian partners that we understand the importance of territorial contiguity in the West Bank, for a viable, Palestinian state.

In this same speech, Prime Minister Sharon emphasized that "there can be no peace, however, without the abandonment and elimination of terrorism, violence and incitement." Not only is this a fundamental condition that has been stipulated in detail in the first phase of the Roadmap, but without its fulfillment, the establishment of a Palestinian state would mean the establishment of a terrorist state along Israel's borders, and that would be unacceptable.

Any discussion on the creation of a Palestinian state should concentrate on the nature of that state. Its parameters, including final borders, are to be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians. Other elements are also critical to Israel's security. Efforts towards establishing a Palestinian state must take Israel's rights and vital interests into account, especially on matters of security, so that there can be peace and stability in the region.

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In his letter of September 9, 1993 to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat pledged that "the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence" and that the PLO commits itself "to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two sides and declares that all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations."

The entire peace process had been predicated on Arafat's promise. Regrettably, he decided to breach that commitment and pursue a strategy of armed struggle. Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis even during the early years of the peace process, despite the progress being made in negotiations. Finally in September 2000, following Arafat's rejection of the peace settlement offered by U.S. President Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Barak at Camp David in July of that year, Arafat chose to intensify the violence, a decision confirmed in statements made by Palestinian officials.

On December 6, 2000, the semi-official Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam reported as follows:

©Sasson Tiram  Suicide bombing of bus no. 14 in center of Jerusalem (11 June 2003)

Yasser Arafat's personal involvement in terrorism is clear. Not only has he done nothing to stop terrorism, but he has aided and abetted it, using it as a tool to pressure Israel. Arafat has signed the checks that fund terrorist groups and their activities, approved the smuggling of arms (as was so dramatically seen with the arms shipment found aboard the Karine A in January 2002), and shielded wanted terrorists in his own headquarters. Significantly, Arafat's own faction, Fatah (the Al-Aksa Brigades), and his special bodyguard unit, Force 17, have actively engaged in terrorism.

Since 1993, Arafat has used the language of jihad (holy war) in many of his speeches and declarations. Consistently finding excuses for terrorism (even while paying lip service to condemnations of it) and by attempting to co-opt Hamas and other terror groups (rather than dismantling them as required, for example, by the Roadmap) - Arafat shows that he has no intention of ending terrorism. Arafat has proven, time and again, that he cannot be trusted, that his commitments are without value, and that he will not deliver when it comes to his promises.

But, beyond that, Arafat has failed his own people. His rejection of the offers and concessions made by Israel at Camp David in the summer of 2000 blocked the fulfillment then of Palestinian aspirations within the context of a peace agreement with Israel. Nearly three years later, Arafat's undermining of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) which led to Abbas' resignation in September 2003 caused major damage to efforts to advance the Roadmap that would potentially have fulfilled international aspirations to promote the peace process. Moreover, the rampant corruption within the Palestinian Authority, the disappearance of millions of dollars and euros into the pockets of Arafat and his cronies, and his refusal to carry out genuine reform of the Palestinian Authority - demonstrate that it is not the Palestinian people's interest that he has at heart, but Arafat's interest.

Israel is prepared to negotiate with any Palestinian leader who lives up to the Palestinian obligations and commitments that are vital to a successful peace process, first and foremost - fighting terrorism and ending incitement that nurtures hatred and violence. For many years, Israel hoped that Arafat was that kind of leader, but the last three years especially have shown that he is not.

Israel has no intention of telling the Palestinians whom they should choose as their leader. However, Israel has no obligation to deal with one who has shown repeatedly that he cannot be trusted and whose word means nothing. Israel is interested in a genuine peace process with a partner who will work for peace. Israel is not interested in a futile and barren exercise that will ultimately yield nothing but continued conflict and anguish. Israel desires a genuine partner for peace. Arafat is not that partner.