ESCALATION? Rightist IDF Ex-Generals Propose Massive Invasion Of PLO Territories

Haaretz ^ | January 31, 2002 | Amos Harel

[FresnoDA]

w w w . h a a r e t z d a i l y . c o m

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Rightist ex-generals propose massive invasion of territories

A group of senior reserve officers, led by Brig. Gen. (res.) Effi Eitam (Fein) are working on a "security-political plan" that includes reoccupying the territories to destroy the Palestinian Authority and changing the political system to prevent Arabs from being elected to the Knesset.

Former reserve generals and senior defense establishment officials are taking part in the formulations of the plan. Eitam, who left the army a year ago and makes no secret of his right wing views, has been conducting intensive political activity in recent months. Beyond the plan's military recommendations are Eitam's plans to directly enter the political arena, possibly as part of a new right wing movement. The plan has already been presented to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who refrained from expressing support for it, and is due to be presented to the public in the coming weeks.

Eitam and his associates say Israel faces an "evasive threat," meaning one that is difficult to identify. That's why, they say, Israel has so much difficulty dealing with it. "If we were now facing an invasion of Syrian or Egyptian armies into the Golan Heights or the Negev, we'd all know what to do," said one of the formulators of the document. "The trouble is that Israel is now like a person for whom cancer, not a bullet, is threatening his life. Our problem is the diagnosis - and by the time we wake up, it will be too late."

Eitam added, "This is a first attempt by the right to present a political-security plan that doesn't make do only with blocking Palestinian intentions but proposes solutions to the situation."

The plan calls for a massive Israeli invasion of Palestinian cities. The former generals argue that the military incursions into cities like Jenin and Tul Karm proved in recent weeks that the IDF would have no problem taking over the cities. They propose entering the territories, "cleaning" them of terrorists and weapons, and then ruling the areas. The move would include the elimination of the Palestinian Authority. Some also call for the physical elimination of Yasser Arafat. According to the ex-generals, the strategic reality could be changed "in a week." The former generals say they have support for their plan in the top command of the IDF.

They believe Israel should unilaterally declare that no sovereignty other than Israel would ever be allowed into the area west of the Jordan River. They say such a declaration would lead to the withering of the intifada, "because the suicide bombers are not blowing themselves up out of despair, but out of hope they can drive us out of the territories. As soon as they find out that won't happen, the level of violence will also drop."

The plan also recommends taking far-reaching steps in other areas: An aggressive Israeli military approach to the nuclear threat from Iran (if the U.S. doesn't do it); encouraging democratic regimes in the area (including changing the regime in Jordan so it becomes the Palestinian state), and limiting the political power of Israeli Arabs.

The plan recommends changing the electoral system to a district system, with the districts gerrymandered to prevent significant Israeli Arab representation in the Knesset. The main criteria, they believe, is whatever strengthens Israel as a Jewish state. They say they hope to win broad support for their goals in the Israeli public, and that they believe the Americans would acquiesce to their plans. They say the circumstances may be such that the current administration in Washington would not object to these proposed Israeli steps.

_{By Amos Harel, Ha'aretz Correspondent}

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

Xbob - You're right, the term 'Samson option' is usually meant in term of Israeli nukes. However, this Arafat plan, whatever you want to call it, has been widely discussed, and even PA diplomats openly warn of an 'explosion.'

[ex-Texan]

Israel should have made these political changes years ago. Now they have no choice but to invade the Palestianian territories. There will be brutal fighting in the streets.

I have no doubt there will be war in the Middle East.

[onyx]

BTTT

[boltfromblue]

Your dream is really a nightmare. The world should not rearrange itself to be as it was 2000 years ago, not that you care about any of its inhabitants, obviously, except Israel.

[dennisw]

Good post!

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

Bolt -- it's not a dream. I think Lspeed pretty clearly stated the damages of such an operation. It will hurt Israel diplomatically and economically. You know, today I read an op-ed by Mohammed Dahlan, Arafat's head of security in Gaza. And I came to the conclusion, 'Bullsh!t!'.

Dahlan talked of living side by side, of bringing refugees back but not distorting Israel's demographic make up, which is of course impossible. Virtually all of those in refugee camps say they want to return to Israel, if it's an uncapped option, as the PA insists, it's the death of Israel, and the beginning of the slaughter of the Jewish population. Israel is right to resist, no country should be called on to commit national suicide.

[Stultis]

Yasser Arafat has now openly threatened the United States. His response to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's warning to reign in terror or face an array of American sanctions was, "If the United States cuts ties with the Palestinian Authority it will cause an earthquake in the region that no one will be able to stop."

Sounds like Dubya's cue to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority. Then Israeli should reoccupy the territories, boot the PLO, and dismantle Hamas, Islamic Jihad, et al. It won't be pretty, and I'm not eager to sell the Palis get stomped (much as I am disappointed by their intrasigence toward peace making), but this has to be done, if only in the long term interest of peace. We can't waste more time or lives on Arafat, or squander the vanishingly small remaining resorvoir of mutual trust. Time to reshuffle the deck and create conditions where a more responsible, courageous and forward looking Palestinian leadership might emerge. The longer Israel and America wait, the harder and more dangerous it will be.

[He Rides A White Horse]

....if it's an uncapped option, as the PA insists, it's the death of Israel, and the beginning of the slaughter of the Jewish population. Israel is right to resist, no country should be called on to commit national suicide.

Much easier to destroy something from within.

[ipatent]

The soldiers on the ground will have to have fire in their hearts..or determination...as anyone moving toward them is a potential combatant..in the streets..this is hard..as it is chaotic..and some who are fleeing and screaming might appear beligerent....my heart goes out to these men..they will see and do terrible things we cannot imagine..but this is the reality of city warfare....picture Stalingrad..or Vietnam..this will be the reality of the P.A. mini-war.. many young men will be mentally scarred from experiencing it...

More like the Warsaw Ghetto.

[kinghorse]

yep, this article is arse backwards as relates to which side holds the Samson option. So much misinformation, so little time.

But I do agree that something is about to be resolved preemptively. Like Bush said, time is not on our side. I hold no doubt that Iran, Iraq, China and North Korea would utterly destroy the US, if they had the means. So should we wait when the enemy is so hellbent on our destruction. I think not.

[kinghorse]

yep, this article is arse backwards as relates to which side holds the Samson option. So much misinformation, so little time.

But I do agree that something is about to be resolved preemptively. Like Bush said, time is not on our side. I hold no doubt that Iran, Iraq, China and North Korea would utterly destroy the US, if they had the means. So should we wait when the enemy is so hellbent on our destruction. I think not.

[Tallguy]

An aggressive Israeli military approach to the nuclear threat from Iran...

I once saw an analysis of Israel's defensive approach (circa 1970) referred to as "The Periphery Strategy." It basically had 2 parts:

1. It assumed that Israel would never have good diplomatic relations with it's immediate Arab neighbors, and

2. Israel should seek good relations with non-Arab countries located on the "periphery" of the Middle East, ie. Turkey and the Shah's Iran. Countries with their own animosities toward their Arab neighbors. A strategic counterweight.

I've never seen a real analysis as to how the '79 Iranian Revolution changed that strategy. It must have since Iran went suddenly from the "friendly" to the "hostile" category. Yet, it seems that Israel continues to look for opportunities to engage Iran through back channels. It's very hard to understand.

Anybody have any ideas? Bueller? Anybody?

[FresnoDA]

Thank's for your amazing take on this matter. I agree that the lid is truly ready to blow-off in Israel, and they must clean the Terrorists out, now!

[FresnoDA]

Sorry you did not believe the post.......Here is the article.......Comments now????

Click icon for article...

Selling the 'Samson option'

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Analysis By Herb Keinon

January, 31 2002

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(January 31) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in his conversation yesterday with Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, undoubtedly discussed how Israel's policies are driving the region to the brink of disaster.

This line of argument, used by Mubarak on innumerable occasions with Israeli and Egyptian interlocutors, says the current violence will spill over and ignite the streets of Amman, Cairo, and Riyadh, leading to a massive conflict with apocalyptic consequences for the region and the world.

By mouthing this argument, Mubarak is propagating what diplomatic officials in Israel refer to as Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's "Samson option." The Samson option, named after the Biblical figure who brought the walls tumbling down, is the Palestinian nuclear option, without the bomb.

If Arafat would employ this option, a senior diplomatic official said yesterday, it would mean killing dozens of Israelis daily - by rocket attacks on airplanes, suicide bombers, and the machine gun strafing of public places.

The aim of this tactic is to threaten the Arab world, the US, and Europe with a "total blast" to force them to pressure Israel, and to force Israel to keep its hands off Arafat.

Whether the Palestinians have the means to create this type of havoc, to bring about this "big bang," is debatable. But right now the very perception of this capability is already having its effect.

Certainly the Egyptians are worried about this, the diplomatic official said, because such a "big bang" would have enormous repercussions in Egypt. Arafat, by waving this option, is threatening to destabilize the entire region if his demands are not met.

The specter of the Samson option has also had its impact on the Europeans. Monday's EU declaration that Israel needs Arafat as a "partner" is a direct result of the fear Arafat will unleash his Samson option if he feels his back is against the wall, the diplomatic official said. But according to the official, what the European declaration will do is actually prolong the violence, rather than somehow curtail it.

The declaration, which states "Israel needs the Palestinian Authority and its elected president, Yasser Arafat, as a partner to negotiate with, both in order to eradicate terrorism and to work towards peace," gives him breathing space.

It signaled to Arafat there are cracks in what needs to be an iron wall of world pressure. This world pressure, together with continuous military pressure, is the "cocktail" Israel believes will eventually spur Arafat into action.

A Foreign Ministry cable from Washington yesterday said that if - in the cautions world of diplomatic-speak - President George W. Bush spoke Friday of being "very disappointed" in Arafat, one can only imagine what is being said about him behind Washington's closed doors.

"To contain Arafat," the diplomatic official said, "it is necessary he get a clear message from everyone that he has no room to maneuver." The Americans took a giant step forward in that direction over the weekend. The Europeans, on Monday, took a similar step backward.

The end result, the official said, will be to prolong the current attrition, and "the danger is that the attrition will get out of hand." The official said the bomb discovered last week near a wedding hall in Jerusalem packed enough explosives to have taken down the entire building, killing dozens, if not hundreds, of people.

Such an attack, he warned, would have prompted an unprecedented military action from Israel as well. The downward spiral fall would have been precipitous.

The Europeans are not the only ones sending signals to Arafat there is no need for him to change his policies, the official said. Similar signals are coming from within Israel itself.

According to this official, who is not at all identified with Likud or the Right, Arafat hears the growing calls for unilateral separation (which he said is a euphemism for withdrawal) within Israel. Likewise, Arafat also hears about reserve officers refusing to serve in the territories, and of Tel Aviv women setting up an organization along the Four Mothers model instrumental in leading to Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon.

The accumulative effect of this, according to the senior diplomatic official, is Arafat "says to himself, 'Let's push a little more, let's kill a few more Israelis, and then they will eventually run away - just like they did in Lebanon."

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[eno_]

"because the suicide bombers are not blowing themselves up out of despair, but out of hope they can drive us out of the territories. As soon as they find out that won't happen, the level of violence will also drop."

Exactly.

This is the same reason we did not see the Moslem world rise up against us. When they saw that terrorism brings them nothing but death at the end of a laser designator, they shut their fat ululating cheese holes. Islam's best hope is that we catch and kill the terrorists quickly. If there is another big attack, the fate of Islam is sealed.