From the Twilight Zone

Here's an item straight out of the Twilight Zone for you:

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January 15, 2007

IDF said curbing West Bank raids for duration of Rice visit

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel Radio reported Monday that the IDF has ordered curbs on operations in the West Bank during the current visit of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"The commander of IDF forces in Judea and Samaria, Brigadier General Yair Golan, has ordered his brigade commanders to arrest Palestinians only in cases of vital necessity," the radio said.
Over the past two days, a divisional commander has refused to authorize a number of initiated operations, it said.

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So Israel puts its war on terror on hold, and gives the terrorists a respite, all because Condi Rice is visiting town? What is going on here?

Ostensibly, the "logic" behind this decision is that the government wants to avoid a repeat of what happened earlier this month, when a military operation in Ramallah went awry during a summit meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

That would seem to make sense, except for one thing: the terrorists are sure to exploit this "rest stop" to their advantage. They know that Rice's visit, and Israel's meek response, give them a lull they most certainly do not deserve.

And so, once again, we find our decision-makers placing more importance on how Israel looks than on how it acts, with image taking precedence over more fundamental concerns such as safety and security.

Rod Serling would be proud.

Sleep Tight, Hamas

Have you ever heard of a fighter reassuring his opponent before he gets into the ring that he won't even try to knock him out?

Neither have I – at least until today, that is.

Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is reported to have said this afternoon that the Government is planning a large-scale military operation in Gaza in order to stem the tide of rocket attacks against Israeli towns and cities.

But in case you thought that Israel is finally preparing to retake Gaza, as it should have done long ago – well, think again.

Shortly after the meeting took place, Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen was quick to backtrack: "We won't change our mode of operation in the Gaza Strip and we will not go back to Gaza. We intend to continue our operation there and carry out pinpoint operations."

And so, in a remarkable act of utter inanity, Israel is essentially telegraphing its intentions in advance to the Palestinians, letting them know that they have little to worry about.

Indeed, instead of employing some creative ambiguity about its objectives, thereby creating additional disarray in the terrorists' ranks, the Government has chosen to calm their fears and reassure them that their hold on power will not be threatened.

So sleep tight, Hamas, and have no fear, for the Government of Israel has just let you know that your terrorist regime is safe for now.

Europe's Unsolicited Advice

You have got to hand it to Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief.

He may be no friend of Israel, but he certainly can keep a straight face while saying the most ridiculous of things.

And so it was that at a meeting today with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Solana repeated the mantra that the Europeans have been reciting ad nauseum in recent years: Israel must abide by the so-called road map to peace.

Now, Solana is no fool. He reads the newspapers. He surely knows that in the intervening years since the adoption of the road map, a few things have changed here in the Middle East. Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gush Katif and received terror in return, Hamas has come to power in the Palestinian Authority, and Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit remains in captivity somewhere in Gaza.

So for Solana to declare that Israel must nonetheless fulfill its obligations under the road map only underlines once again just how unjust, and downright absurd, the European position on the Middle East truly is. Because essentially what Europe is saying to Israel is: we don't care if the Palestinians keep trying to kill you, just shut up and retreat.

Sorry, Javier, but the days when Europe can force Jews to flee are over. This land belongs to us, and we have no intention of leaving – so start getting used to it. Or, better yet, take your unsolicited advice elsewhere.