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Those Other West Bank Terrorists
Dan Byman and Natan Sachs have a great article in the new Foreign Affairs on the rise of settler terrorism in the West Bank. I suspect that some will argue Byman and Sachs are "brave" to tackle such a "controversial" issue, but reading the article last weekend, one of the things that struck me was how much the article makes sense in the context of Byman's other research. Byman has basically spent the past decade studying the threats posed by violent non-state actors to the state of Israel and then evaluating Israel's response to those threats. If Byman was to follow an honest definition of terrorism, it was only going to be a matter of time before he dealt with the violent Jewish extremists who have both terrorized the Palestinian population of the West Bank and posed a real challenge to the authority of the Israeli state. Regional specialists have been sounding the alarm about the changing character of the Israeli settler movement for quite some time, so again, it makes sense to see security studies specialists now paying attention to the issue.
Byman and Sachs have contributed a valuable service by sketching out the way in which the settler movement has changed, why it has resorted to violence (spoiler: it's working!), and why both the Israeli and U.S. governments should be more concerned than they are. A few ironies that struck me while reading the report:
1. This will be awkward for all parties involved, but Palestinians are the new Israelis:
The situation recalls the bitterness Israelis felt when dealing with former Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat as Palestinian suicide bombings continued: either he could stop the violence and chose not to or he was unable to end it, in which case there was little reason to talk. As settler violence increases, the Palestinians will begin to say the same about Israel's leadership.
2. The recommendations Byman and Sachs put forward often echo the recommendations so often put forward regarding Islamist terrorism. Specifically...
...mainstream rabbis should denounce their radical brethren and demonstrate how their views contradict centuries of religious tradition. When extremist rabbis incite violence, they must face prosecution.
Now where have we heard something remarkably similar to that before!
I had never visited Israel or the Palestinian territories prior to 2006 but have been four times since. I am a very amateur student, then, of both Israeli society as well as the debates on Israel and the U.S. relationship with Israel that take place here in the United States. (I am better versed in the theological debates within my own faith tradition regarding the state of Israel, but theology is not a subject I wish to blog on anytime soon!) I have to tell you, though, that I have never once heard anyone from any of the Jewish organizations that support the U.S.-Israeli relationship condone settler violence or speak about it with anything other than condemnation. So I do not think the problem is with the often maligned American Israel Public Affairs Committee or the American Jewish Congress or any other similar group. I wonder, though, what many evangelical Christian groups like John Hagee's Christians United for Israel think about settler violence -- if they think about it at all. And I wonder also if those groups will be an obstacle to some of the recommendations Byman and Sachs make regarding cracking down on funding for extremist groups in the settlements. Because sadly, we American Christians have a history of turning a blind eye toward terrorism when we approve of the ends.
It's also kinda crazy that
It's also kinda crazy that there are a lot of ultra-orthodox amoung the settlers, but the ultra-orthodox also insist that they don't have to serve in the Israeli military.
Nygdan, most of the settlers
Nygdan, most of the settlers are classified as kipot-srugot (knitted-yarmulkas), part of the National-Religious movement, and they do serve in the IDF.
As an Israeli, I find the behaviour of some of the settlers to be embarrassing and counter-productive. On the other hand, they are still "WE", while the most innocent Palestinian is still "THEM".
Great blog post. One thing to
Great blog post. One thing to add is that a lot of the settler violence in the West Bank is from poorer, 1st or 2ed generation Jews.
That's interesting because they have quite a bit of difference when it comes to the socialization with "mainstream" Israeli society. If you've been to a settlement you know what I mean.
It's a different breed of Israel that have grown in these settlements. Any West Banker or Jewish kid working an IDF checkpoint will tell you that.
Not sure why Washington is
Not sure why Washington is involved in this discussion unless it is Americans that are expressing their political will.
For some the act of intimidation is violent add in political will and organization there is a fine line with the legal definition of terrorism. What happens if you see your reflection when the words are played with?
Sounds like someone in Washington doesn't like how the last Israeli peace negotiation went.
Neither side should be acting badly in the West Bank, both parties are responsible for their behavior.
If you want to go theological, "you reap what you sow". Then again this has been going on for how long? Changing the US dictionary will not change it, only they can.
I hate that this comment puts
I hate that this comment puts me in the position of defending these extremists, but I've got to say, this is one of the more flawed posts I've seen on this normally excellent blog.
Most importantly, how many people have these "terrorist" settlers killed since the second intifadah ended? If you don't include palestinian militants killed on or in the near vicinity of the settlements, then no matter who is counting, the number is either very low, or negligible. The number of IDF soldiers the settlers have killed is also (depending on who you ask) almost certainly zero. If the hilltop youth are a terror group, then they are among the most ineffective and non-lethal terror groups of modern times.
Instead, what you have in the West Bank is a few hundred extremists on BOTH sides engaging in low grade ethnic conflict, of the type you can find all over the world. Olive groves get burned...on both sides. Rocks get thrown at civilians...on both sides. Religious structures get vandalized...on both sides. Yes, one side may have the partial backing of the occupying army, but if you think the IDF is prepared to let the hilltop youth have free reign in the West Bank, why is the new Central Command GOC a noted opponent of the settlements who is among the most vocal in the mainstream israeli establishment in labeling the hilltop youth as "terrorists"? And I feel the overwhelmingly anti-settlement stance of the numerous NGOs, foreign press, and even friendly governments acts as an adequate counterweight to low-level IDF support for extremist settler movements.
The most important thing I can add to this discussion is the fact that the actions of the hilltop youth, however deplorable they are, do not exist in a vacuum. There are equivalent actions by Palestinians against Israeli property...and even against fellow Palestinians of differing political views, religion, or clan. While the western press may be pro-Israel in regards to the larger strategic environment, in my opinion they are hesitant to report on intranational Palestinian conflict or Palestinian vandalism and property destruction against settlers.
Exum, you yourself have stated in earlier blog posts that you're hesitant to report on this specific topic because of the rhetorical extremism that this topic reflexively generates. You're totally correct about that. But reporting on that same topic in a manner that completely dismisses the arguments of the main actor are setting yourself up for such criticisms, no matter how much merit the point of view your are supporting has.
Jay, it comes down to who
Jay, it comes down to who owns it. The West Bank I mean.
From the Obama, Inc (Oops, CIA) web site:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/we.html
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still controls maritime, airspace, and other access to the Gaza Strip. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. Violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khalid MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS that same month dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. Fatah and HAMAS in May 2011, under the auspices of Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation negotiations, agreed to reunify the Palestinian territories, but the factions have struggled to finalize details on governing and security structures. The status quo remains with HAMAS in control of the Gaza Strip and ABBAS and the Fatah-dominated PA governing the West Bank. FAYYAD and his PA government continue to implement a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS, who on behalf of the Palestinians in September submitted a UN membership application, has said he will not resume negotiations with current Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU until Israel halts all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The rub with Exum is the last sentence above. All these people HATE Bibi as much as Obama does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l28xJitnP78 (remember the off microphone remarks by the French Government). You would think that people that don't eat at Chic-fil-a could handle an alternate relationship with Bibi.
Anyone that walks in with 1967 borders is going to get Boo'ed!!!! That would be like the Democrats coming into Congress and telling everyone that because of the Illegal immigrant issue in America, Americans are going to give back Texas like the Alamo never happened (Ya'll think that rocks would get threwn?). What a hoot and Obama says Congress doesn't do THEIR job.
I had to laugh this morning when I saw this....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/army-general-inves...
it reminded me of this....
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBANCGWBb4F5a1fVSSqOz1...
Not sure Obama even knew there was a recession in America before he got off the plane in Ohio, he spent most of the first part of his tenure on healthcare and travel.
Guys ask WHY the West Bank occupants throw rocks at each other. Then ask yourself honestly of they can get past their reasons. Otherwise you are just pissing in the wind and making yourself wet. It feels good on a hot day until someone asks why you're doing it.
Interesting the above link
Interesting the above link disappeared!!!!
The General's travels.....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/army-general-inves...
Reminded me of this....
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78594.html
Since becoming secretary of state in 2009, Clinton has logged 351 days on the road, traveled to 102 countries and flown a whopping 843,839 miles, according to the State Department. While some previous secretaries may have flown more miles — mainly due to shuttling back and forth to the Mideast on peace missions — none has visited more nations.
What is the carbon foot print of that????? One star hotels? How many security people and aids? Press?
You would think that an administration that prides itself on using mass media to campaign with would discover the telephone !!!! It has only been around for over 100 years.
SETTLERS AND MORE THAN JUST
SETTLERS AND MORE THAN JUST "TERRORISM" If one looks beyond the most dramatic attacks against Palestinian persons, one finds a continuous assault on the Palestinian ability to live, work and study....and have a future in the West Bank and Gaza. There is daily humiliation for anyone who must leave their village. EVERY DAY/EVERY DAY fields are declared off limits to their owners, their olive trees are bulldozed or burned to the ground, their houses destroyed or damaged, and their private land confiscated under one excuse or the other. would that this were only the acts of "extremists" but it takes place within the full view of the IDF or even under orders from the Israeli govenrment. Increasingly, Palestinians have less access to the Israeli courts for their claims against illegal seizures. And when a court DOES recognize Palestinian rights and orders the government to implement its decisions, they simply ignore their own court or partially implement the order.
I wish people would stop looking at individual incidents and take a look at the map. The websites of Gush Shalom or Peace Now or Bt'selem are a good place to start. The current configuration of the settlements, even the main blocs, makes impossible any two-state solution beyond a few isolated bantustans. I also wish readers would PLEASE look at something like TODAY IN PALESTINE to get a sense of teh RELENTLESS nature of this process of dispossession.
My point is that Americans still talk about this conflict as if there is a "rational solution" that could fulfill the general aspirations of both parties if "the other side" would only compromise and be a partner for peace. If one takes the time to read the Israeli press in English, it becomes clear that we simply are not being given a clear picture of all this by our own media.
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One side murders toddlers in
One side murders toddlers in cold blood. The other draws graffiti on a mosque. Totally same thing.
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