Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Israel warns of response to mass terror.
Drudgereport ^ | 12-2--02 | Joshua Brilliant

Posted on 12/03/2002 4:40:09 AM PST by Jimmyclyde

Israel warns of response to mass terror

By Joshua Brilliant From the International Desk Published 12/2/2002 9:48 PM

HERZLIYA, Israel, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The head of Israel's National Security Council said Monday that a "mega-terror attack" threatening Israel's existence would open options for retaliation that hitherto "were unacceptable to public opinion."

Ephraim Halevy, who recently stepped down as head of the Mossad spy service, warned that Israel has "a broad and varied range of capabilities (to cope with a threat to its existence) that better not be exposed prematurely."

In an address to the Third Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel's Security, Halevy said Israel must examine the new reality created by last week's attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner taking off from Mombassa, Kenya.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Sunday told the Cabinet there were increasing signs that al Qaida was behind Thursday's attacks in Mombassa. Three suicide bombers attacked a hotel frequented by Israelis killing themselves, 10 Kenyans and three Israelis. At the same time two shoulder-launched missiles were fired at an Israeli Boeing 757-300 taking off from Mombassa International Airport with 272 passengers and crew. The missiles barely missed the plane.

Military chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon, said Monday the Israel Defense Forces have already foiled many al Qaida attacks in Israel. Al Qaida has Palestinian operatives in the occupied territories and "has declared war on ... infidels, making Israel one of its main targets," he said.

At the Herzliya conference Halevy said, "The emergence of a mega-terror attack by the world Jihad or by another terror organization changes rules of the game, changes the national mood and creates an international dynamic that opens options that so far have been unacceptable to public opinion."

One must assume that a successful mega-terror incident would "at once changes rules of conduct and behavior. The emerging threat (to Israel) is a threat of genocide -- destroying a state and its institutions," he added.

The new National Security Council chief said the campaign the world Jihad is waging has no boundary lines, regular forces and the attackers violate "all rules of war."

No one can remain neutral, he continued. "Whoever gives the terrorists any aide whatsoever -- identifies with terror. It is possible that due to temporary conditions ... not all those aiding terror will be taken care of simultaneously ... But it is clear that at the end of the day whoever fails to clarify his positions here and now and back them with deeds, will be marked as an accessory to terror and will pay the full price for it."

Haalevy declined comment on a report that al Qaida had claimed responsibility for Thursday's attacks in Mombassa. He told United Press International he was not aware of any such claim.

Haifa University's Professor Gabriel Ben-Dor reported on a changing public attitude towards terror attacks. Basing his findings on the results of five public opinion surveys conducted at six months intervals among 2,000 people Ben Dor said that more than 80 percent of the Israelis polled expressed fear of terror attacks.

That translated also into increased Israeli militancy with as many as 70 percent ready to back any military action.

However in the last survey, in October, he found a decline in fear, patriotism and militancy. "It seems as though the Israeli public is getting accustomed to living with the phenomena of terror," he concluded.

Copyright © 2002 United Press International


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ephraimhalevy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last
To: Jimmyclyde
exactly what should israel do?
21 posted on 12/03/2002 7:54:35 AM PST by Bill Davis FR
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
"This is similar to when we put out word to Iraq about 6 months ago that Iraq would face annihilation if they used WMD on American troops."

Yep.

22 posted on 12/03/2002 8:03:23 AM PST by cake_crumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Starrgaizr
Israel can't nuke Ramalla and Hebron: that would thoroughly irradiate Israel as well. They have more than enough conventional weapons to do the job.

SADDAM, now...Iraq should be far enough away for nukes if necessary.

23 posted on 12/03/2002 8:46:52 AM PST by cake_crumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: judicial meanz
General Sherman has much wisdom to shed on the situation:

I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy. - Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, September, 1863

and another prophetic statement:

I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast. - Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
24 posted on 12/03/2002 9:19:03 AM PST by Scarlet_Pimpernil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: cake_crumb
Nah, nuking Mecca would just have them make some other idol. What we need (and I mean tomorrow) is to depose the house of Saud. Saudi Arabia needs to be absorbed into the new US Territory I would call 'New Texas'.Lay out a big barbed wire fence around Mecca and Medina. We would have all the oil we want, and we could have enough hardware pointed at Iraq that we wouldn't ever really need to invade, just do an occasional turkey shoot with unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles. Hell, we would fortify New Texas so well we would have a new vacation spot for the snow birds, we would do what we do every time we conquer, we would fix it: women could take off their burkas and non-members of the royal family could eat 3 squares a day.....

If I weren't such a nice guy, I would propose bulldozing Mecca in order to lay a foundation for the new twin tower world trade center East on the site, but I won't :)
25 posted on 12/03/2002 9:34:49 AM PST by Scarlet_Pimpernil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Jimmyclyde
They prefer their terrorism at a slow trickle rather than all at once like the US got.
26 posted on 12/03/2002 9:42:17 AM PST by Teacher317
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: nevergore
Got Nuke?

Here's one

For more, try Here

28 posted on 12/03/2002 10:18:26 AM PST by El Gato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jimmyclyde
What I read, between the lines, is Israel will not F around with countries financing, or at least cowering to terrorist groups (unlike certain countries which come to mind.)

The skinny Saudi wimp-spokesman will likely be taking the podium with regularity over the coming days. At least he'd better. Gosh knows if a Saudi money trail is linked to this attack, it could become fugly in a hurry.

29 posted on 12/03/2002 11:34:41 AM PST by mikhailovich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scarlet_Pimpernil
"If I weren't such a nice guy, I would propose bulldozing Mecca in order to lay a foundation for the new twin tower world trade center East on the site, but I won't :)"

Hmmmm not a bad idea, really...

30 posted on 12/03/2002 12:19:37 PM PST by cake_crumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: nevergore
"GOT NUKE?"

According to FAS.org, Isreal has 100 to 200 warheads. I believe they are only fission weapons (Atomic bombs) which have a limited yeild. The best estimates I can come up with on short notice is that the Israeli weapons have a yeild of approximately 80kt (about 4 times Hiroshima explosion). That could really put the smack down on any Arab city. If they have developed fusion weapons (thermonuclear or H-Bombs) they would approach megaton range yeilds. Whatever they actually posess, it would be foolish indeed to screw with them.

Feel free to correct me on any of my theorizing here.

31 posted on 12/03/2002 1:26:35 PM PST by EricT.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #32 Removed by Moderator

To: Yehuda
...and when they hear the word 'Mericans, they will cringe in fear everywhere!!
33 posted on 12/03/2002 7:34:27 PM PST by Napoleon Solo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Yehuda
Israel has a large supply of Neutron bombs, and I think they could be, if necessary, precise enough to kill every Muslim in Hebron while leaving no Jews and fewer than 50 Christian dead. No radioactive overhang, perfectly safe in a few minutes.

That would be a good start, then on to BetLekhem and the entire southern lobe of the West Bank.

Come to think of it, why not just go ahead and do it, like the article said, Why Wait Until the Enemy Attack is Successful?

Hit them first!

34 posted on 12/03/2002 7:43:00 PM PST by crystalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Jimmyclyde
I'm surprised the Israeli response to terror has been so muted. No action they might contemplate against the Islamists will damage their relations with the U.S. Every zip they kill is a killer who won't kill your family or mine.
35 posted on 12/03/2002 7:46:10 PM PST by Man of the Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: crystalk
...Neutron bombs... . No radioactive overhang, perfectly safe in a few minutes.

Sorry... I don't have any idea where this concept got started, but it has to be crushed. The truth is that "neutron bombs" cause enhanced neutron radiation, not solely neutron radiation. The blast area and the fallout effects are still prodigious, although it is a bit reduced from that which would occur from a conventional atomic bomb of the same yield.

It is completely false that the area would be perfectly safe in a few minutes.

37 posted on 12/04/2002 3:02:52 AM PST by AFPhys
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson