Terrorism in Israel is encouraged and motivated by the belief that terrorism will force Israel to seek a two-state solution - the creation of a Palestinian Arab state on what they call the 'West Bank' of the former Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (Judea and Samaria). Terrorism triggered the Oslo Accords in 1993-1995 and drove Israel withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of northern Samaria in 2005.
Israel must end the two-state delusion and declare sovereignty in Judea and Samaria!
What is the two-state delusion? Terrorists and Israel haters believe that creation of a Palestinian Arab State within the pre-1967 borders is the first step in freeing "Palestine from the River to the Sea" and the destruction of Israel. Once that state of "Palestine" is established, further terrorism will undermine the very existence of Israel.
Cynical Arab leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, etc. as well as the Palestinian Authority funded by Israel-haters around the world, motivate often very simple-minded followers to commit atrocious acts to hasten the ultimate “liberation” of "Palestine". The outrageous claim that Jews are desecrating Al-Aqsa Mosque or heaven forbid are praying on the Temple Mount is used to enflame and stimulate masses of Arabs to become terrorists for the cause.
The time has come to end the military occupation of Judea and Samaria. End the delusion that there will be a Palestinian Arb state west of the Jordan River. After 75 years it is time for Israel to declare sovereignty in all of Judea and Samaria.
Imagine that you were a Moslem Arab living in Israel or in Judea and Samaria and you heard endless proclamations by senior Israeli leaders and politicians, media, US Ambassadors and State Department officials, EU representatives and diplomats around the world demanding that Israel create a Palestinian Arab state in its backyard and withdraw from Judea and Samaria and eastern parts of Jerusalem. How would you feel? How would you react?
Many Arabs not only hear that message as adults but were told that in schools from kindergarten and up and believe that terrorism will hasten the creation of a Palestinian Arab state. They are encouraged by the success terrorism enjoyed convincing Israel to withdraw from Gaza. As long as Israel talks and acts as if there is a two-state option, terrorists believe that the more terrorism, the more rockets are launched, the more drones penetrate Israel air-space the sooner will be realized the “dream” of another Arab state.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon correctly observed that the so-called "occupation" is a disaster for both Arabs and Jews. It must end! The "occupation" could end in one of two ways: Disengagement and the creation of an Arab state or the declaration of civil rule and of sovereignty or “annexation”. The withdrawal from Gaza was a clear-cut test of withdrawal. Submission to violence and allowing terrorists to declare victory was a total failure.
Sharon believed that the Gaza withdrawal would launch an era in which land could be exchanged for peace, with the potential for a similar process in Judea and Samaria. Four months after Israel left Gaza, Hamas won legislative elections in the Palestinian Arab territories promising that ongoing terrorism would eventually drive the Jews out of Judea and Samaria and of course eventually destroy Israel and drive the Jews into the sea. The withdrawal of 8,500 Jews from the Gaza Strip, has been an unmitigated catastrophe, Israel has been bombarded by thousands of rockets forcing it to retaliate and Gaza's almost 1.5 million residents endure endless violence between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militia factions.
In spite of hearing a barrage of two-state promises, many Arabs living in Israel are loyal citizens and participate in Israel’s success. They enjoy and appreciate the benefits of living in a democratic Jewish State. None move out of Israel to live under the autocratic Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, Nablus. Hebron or Jenin! And most Arabs living under the “enlightened” Palestine Authority dream of receiving a blue Israel ID card with all the benefits of living in “Green Line” Israel. Remarkably, most Arabs resist the temptation to join terrorist organizations and groups that seek creation of a Palestinian Arab state based on the 1967 cease fire lines leading to the ultimate elimination of the Jewish state.
Years ago, “serious” Israeli thinkers believed in a two-state solution. Today, however, after the Gaza experiment, the overwhelming majority understand that withdrawal from Gaza had disastrous consequences and oppose Israel withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. They understand that creation of a terrorist state in Israel’s backyard will lead to a catastrophe of epic dimensions. Nonetheless, they still support a status quo that clearly encourages terrorism
Even President Isaac Herzog, who supported the Gaza withdrawal, finds it troubling now. Demographically, he says, it was the right thing to do, but “without a doubt, from a security perspective, the disengagement was a mistake,” he told a left-wing audience. “We failed in our assessment that post-withdrawal Gaza would become the Hong Kong of the Middle East,” he said. “Instead, it has become one big rocket base.”
The violent consequences of the withdrawal from Gaza (rockets flying and three wars), assure that Israel will not withdraw from the Judea and Samaria, where almost 500,000 Jews – more than 50 times as many as lived in Gaza -- live among 1.65 million Palestinian Arabs.
When Israel announces the end of the military occupation and asserts its rights to Judea and Samaria it will be clear to terrorists, their leaders and supporters that the terrorist agenda is a dead end. No terrorist activity will be successful in altering the reality of the borders of the Jewish State. Of course, criminal behavior will not immediately end, but it will become clear that there is no positive outcome to ongoing terrorism. There will be ongoing criminal activity. Every city and country in the world suffers from criminal acts. But that is the function of police to curb and limit criminality. For example, NY City has 45,0000 armed police and others who strive for better or worse to curb criminals and violence. In The Sayings of our Fathers (3:2) (Pirkei Avot) Rabbi Hanina, the vice-high priest said: Pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive.
When Israel declares sovereignty, what will be the status of the Arab residents? Israel’s Declaration of Independence declared that all residents would have civil and religious rights. Today, Israel’s minority Arab population, Christian and Moslems, are full citizens and are represented in all walks of Israeli life — as MKs, government ministers, judges, professors and senior business and community leaders. Israel respects its non-Jewish residents, and its status as a democratic Jewish state.
Various approaches have been suggested with respect to the status of the Arab residents of Judea and Samaria after declaration of sovereignty. Initially, the new residents of Israel will have the same status as 95% of Jerusalem Arabs: they will receive Blue Israel ID cards with all the attendant benefits other than the right to vote for MK’s. Arabs with Blue IDs will manage their municipal affairs, and democratically elect their local leadership. However, as long as any of Israel’s neighbors seek Israel’s destruction, one cannot expect that Israel would be suicidal and risk giving national voting rights to people influenced by violent anti-democratic external forces to participate in life and death national decisions.
But, you ask, won’t the world brand Israel as an apartheid state — claiming that the Muslim minority are second-class citizens? A world that has been blind to true racism and truly violent apartheid states cannot dictate to Israel how to best preserve itself and continue as a democratic Jewish state. Current status of military rule is condemned by all. Civil rights and law and order pursuant to Israel’s Declaration of Independence is supported by the vast majority of Israeli Arabs.
Declaration of Sovereignty or Annexation will end once and for all the agenda of /terrorists who seek to force Israel to create a terrorist state in its backyard.
Dr. Michael Wise is a founder and investor in numerous technology companies. He is a graduate of YU and holds a PhD .in Theoretical Physics from Brandeis U., is the author of Israel demography study (BESA).and has published numerous articles about Israel sovereignty and demographics in Judea and Samaria. [email protected]