                       A Voice from Hebron
                      by Gary M. Cooperberg
                         March 19, 1996
                     Can Terror be Stopped?
     
          Mr. Peres loves to tell us that he has no alternative.  The fact is that he really has
no idea how correct he is.  His entire policy has become one of  "no alternative".   At first he
claimed to have "no alternative" other than to surrender to Arafat and call it "peace."  But after
seeing his people blown all over the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, he now tells us that he has
"no alternative" but to keep the closure on the "territories".  He has "no alternative" other than
demolishing homes of terrorists. And, most recently, he suggested that he may have "no
alternative" other than to expel terrorists and their families from Israel!
     The State of Israel is bereft of leadership.  No candidate has the slightest idea of how to
lead the Jewish State as a proud nation which is destined to serve as a light unto the nations.  Not
one even has a reasonable suggestion as to how we can protect our citizens from terror.  
     We started with plastic windows to protect us against stones.  But then we had to face
bullets, which the plastic could not stop.  Today we have sophisticated tracking devices which can
tell the security services where to find your car after you have been attacked.  In Jerusalem every
bus stop is guarded by soldiers, and specially trained dogs are being used to sniff out explosives.
Even the President of the United States, with all his fancy technology and financial backing,
openly told us on Israeli television, that the best we can hope for is to reduce terror . . . not to
stop it.
     I don't know about you, but the concept of reducing terror rather than obliterating it
altogether simply doesn't comfort me.  How would Mr. Clinton feel if the "fewer" victims
included his daughter?  Would he be comforted at the funeral when told that "only" a few people
were murdered, thanks to his sophisticated technological assistance?
     Why is it that no one is willing to address the real problem?  Arafat, even when he had
nothing, has never hesitated to openly state that all of "palestine" belongs to him.  Why is it that
no Jewish prime minister of Israel ever openly stated that all of the Land of Israel belongs
exclusively to the Jewish people?  After all, in our case, it just happens to be true!  It is this
failure, by our leadership, to accept the return of Jewish sovereignty to our ancient homeland
which has encouraged the Moslem world to try to destroy us.   They certainly have always
wanted to, but their fear of our strength and determination would have stopped them.  When we
take steps which are clearly perceived as fear and desperation, that is when our enemies lift their
heads and even risk their lives to achieve their goal.
     So the answer to terror is not more policeman or sophisticated electronic detection
devices.  The answer now, as it always has been, is simply Jewish self respect.  We have every
right, nay, obligation, to openly state that Israel is the Jewish homeland.  As such only Jews have
the right to citizenship here.  Foreigners who wish to live among us, abide by our laws and respect
our exclusive sovereignty, are welcome to do so.  Those who challenge our rights will simply be
removed.  Of course there will be angry reactions.  There might even be some violence.  But, after
the air clears, within weeks, or maybe even days, we will have a country where we needn't fear to
drive the roads or stand in crowded shopping centers.
     Mr. Peres is certainly correct.  He really has no alternative.  The problem is that he hasn't
yet learned what that alternative is.  He will eventually learn.  But at what price?