�� ������ ���� �� ����� ��� You may wonder why Israel tolerates attacks on its citizens. After all, the country is supposed to be militarily strong. How can the government sit by helplessly and allow suicide bombers to blow up buses? How can we tolerate drive-by shootings? What happened to Israel's legendary strength?
This can be explained if we try to understand Israeli policy.
Constant discussions are held behind the scenes between people who present themselves to the public as enemies. Sharon announced that there would be a response following a mega-attack, but that there would be a measured or limited response following other attacks. Clearly, such a statement had to be based on a discussion between himself and Israel's enemies. They agreed that there would be a certain number of small-scale attacks that would kill a certain number of people periodically. Israel apparently agreed to this outrageous plan. The proof is Israel's horrific statement that it would only respond seriously to a mega attack.
This declaration implies that we will consider a bombing of a large public institution, such as a school, to be a causus bellum. However, a "minor" attack on a bus with "only" 20 dead and over 100 injured is not a reason for us to use our might. It is not a mega attack. The State of Israel has declared that it is wiling to tolerate and accept it.
If that fact were not horrifying enough, then consider the next logical result of this policy: Frequent bus attacks clearly cause a level of carnage that equals or surpasses the number of injured and dead in a mega attack. Nonetheless, Israeli policy tolerates this situation. Granted, Israel may blow up some empty Arab houses following some attacks, but they will not use their massive strength in order to prevent such attacks from recurring.
Enormous funds have been invested in security and in the guarding of buildings, houses, and institutions. Our military intelligence has been largely successful. The other cases are reported in the newspapers or on CNN.
The citizens of the State of Israel have not objected to this policy. We continue to accept these acts of terror with little opposition, political statements, and retribution.
How can this situation exist?
Well, there are clearly many secret behind-the-scenes events and agreements that force the State of Israel to accept or tolerate these attacks. The populace is not familiar with those discussions. On the other hand, the Arabs apparently do know their limits. After all, where do you draw the line between a tolerable attack and a mega attack?
Let's try to analyze what the Arabs already know. Twenty or thirty people dead is tolerable. A school is not tolerable. Apparently, the red line is somewhere in between. Is that number 50? 100? 200? Although we don't know, the Israeli and Arab leadership have obviously come to a secret agreement. They do know.
It's a strange world.
Things look different from here
- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 2004
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