The Prime Minister\'s Security Cabinet convened yesterday for over five hours to assess the current security situation and the increase in PLO warfare. Following the meeting, the government confirmed that its policy of an \"offensive defense\" - striking terrorists that pose an immediate threat to Israel - would continue. Many Arab terrorists who were operating out in the open in coordination with Arafat\'s PA have now gone underground in fear of Israel\'s \"far-reaching arm.\"
The US State Department called the IDF action in Shechem \"excessive\" and \"provocative.\" In a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, ZOA National President Morton A. Klein wrote: \"The State Department\'s condemnation of Israel is excessive--because Israel has every right to hit terrorists before the terrorists carry out more atrocities--and it is provocative, because it will encourage the terrorists to believe that they have America\'s sympathy or understanding, which could help provoke them to attack again. No country in the world --including the United States-- would sit idly by and allow terrorists to massacre its citizens.\" Prime Minister Sharon says that he conversed with US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday \"in a most congenial atmosphere.\" Sharon says that the US understands Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
Uzi Arad, a former senior Mossad agent and aide to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, said on Arutz-7\'s news magazine that Israel must continue to neutralize the terrorist operations: “We must carry out actions like the one executed in Shechem. I can’t think of a more justified target to hit than commanders and those directly involved in terrorist activities. If you don\'t fight them, then who do you fight? Do they want to disarm Israel completely? I think it was a limited, very surgical strike, which actually demonstrates a considered policy of active, defensive warfare, carried out according to plan.”
Regarding the harsh American criticism of the Tuesday night retaliation, Arad said: “Precisely in the same way that you fight terror in the field you can fight in the political arena and utilize every available argument. Our justification here is so very clear that I see no reason to fold up the flag and take an apologetic stance. Absolutely not. We are behaving in a more controlled manner than any other enlightened nation that I know that has had to face this kind phenomenon... We need to limit the number of incidental casualties, but we have to be consistent in attacking any active force that can do us damage. Either we get hit or they get hit, and we prefer that their people get hit.”
Arad concluded: “The question is if all of a sudden our spirit collapses or if we continue with the same spirit that led us to achievements in the past. I believe there is great spiritual fortitude in the nation, I believe there are great capabilities. I think there can be leadership that harnesses the people to the continuation of the struggle until we overcome… We have deep roots here, that’s why we are here.\"
The US State Department called the IDF action in Shechem \"excessive\" and \"provocative.\" In a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, ZOA National President Morton A. Klein wrote: \"The State Department\'s condemnation of Israel is excessive--because Israel has every right to hit terrorists before the terrorists carry out more atrocities--and it is provocative, because it will encourage the terrorists to believe that they have America\'s sympathy or understanding, which could help provoke them to attack again. No country in the world --including the United States-- would sit idly by and allow terrorists to massacre its citizens.\" Prime Minister Sharon says that he conversed with US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday \"in a most congenial atmosphere.\" Sharon says that the US understands Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
Uzi Arad, a former senior Mossad agent and aide to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, said on Arutz-7\'s news magazine that Israel must continue to neutralize the terrorist operations: “We must carry out actions like the one executed in Shechem. I can’t think of a more justified target to hit than commanders and those directly involved in terrorist activities. If you don\'t fight them, then who do you fight? Do they want to disarm Israel completely? I think it was a limited, very surgical strike, which actually demonstrates a considered policy of active, defensive warfare, carried out according to plan.”
Regarding the harsh American criticism of the Tuesday night retaliation, Arad said: “Precisely in the same way that you fight terror in the field you can fight in the political arena and utilize every available argument. Our justification here is so very clear that I see no reason to fold up the flag and take an apologetic stance. Absolutely not. We are behaving in a more controlled manner than any other enlightened nation that I know that has had to face this kind phenomenon... We need to limit the number of incidental casualties, but we have to be consistent in attacking any active force that can do us damage. Either we get hit or they get hit, and we prefer that their people get hit.”
Arad concluded: “The question is if all of a sudden our spirit collapses or if we continue with the same spirit that led us to achievements in the past. I believe there is great spiritual fortitude in the nation, I believe there are great capabilities. I think there can be leadership that harnesses the people to the continuation of the struggle until we overcome… We have deep roots here, that’s why we are here.\"