The savage murder of Jewish worshippers in a Jerusalem synagogue was the latest in a string of brutal terror attacks that have swept through the country. Whether or not these attacks are the beginning of the Third Intifada, one thing is certain: Civilians need to be capable of defending themselves.
Whether it is because the lack of manpower or the governmental restrictions placed on the police and soldiers, the Israeli security force's difficulty in trying to protect civilians from harm is becoming more palpable by the day. It is disappointing – but it is also the reality. The only way that Jews, especially those living in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, can be safe is if they take the appropriate defensive measures - not taking the law into their own hands, but reacting in real time to attempted terror.
Brutal terror attacks and daily rock throwing illustrate our loss of deterrence. Arabs living in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria have learned something from their brethren in Gaza, and are now taking advantage of the government's reluctance to deal a fatal blow to terror. The thousands of rockets shot by Hamas from Gaza have now evolved into violent acts of terror attempted and often committed throughout the country.
The security forces cannot protect every single home and synagogue in Israel, and citizens must be ready to defend themselves and to deter the enemy if necessary. The “sport” of rock throwing would not be as attractive if the lethal rocks were answered by a volley of return fire.
Unlike suicide bombers who have accepted their fate, most terrorists try to flee the scene after committing an attack with hope of escaping unscathed. Therefore, it must be very clear that any attempt on Jewish lives will result in terrorists losing their own lives. Deterrence is the only way to stop these terror attacks and avoid the Third Intifada, and that job seems to have fallen on the people. The government has already announced it will see to it that the people can do the job.
Using violence as a means of self-defense is unfortunate, but it is the only language understood in the Middle East. Attempted diplomatic solutions in the face of terror are just as futile now as in the past, and no amount of negotiations will halt the inciting propaganda being publicized daily by PA- monitored media and taught in the PA schools.
Our brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria are on the front lines, and it is only their strength and determination that have the ability to stop the increasing violence. “Every Jew a .22” - a simple yet powerful slogan from the 1970's - is just as, if not more, important today.