Myth: Palestinian Terror is no Longer a Threat to Israel

Myths and Facts Israel-PLO Recognition: September 9, 1993 Palestinian Terrorism: Table of Contents Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the Oslo Accords (1993-2011) Read This Article Online Myths and Facts 2012: Online Edition Source: Mitchell Bard AICE is pleased to announce the release of the 2012 Edition of Myths & Facts HERE Myths & Facts: 2012 is available at discounted group rates for the English edition alone. Click here for online versions of Myths & Facts in the following languages: Spanish, German, French, Russian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Hebrew. Dr. Bard is available for media interviews and speaking engagements on this and other topics. You can help AICE continue this work by becoming a sponsor of the Jewish Virtual Library. Click here for more information. Follow AICE: MYTH: "Palestinian terrorism is no longer a threat to Israel." FACT: The Palestinian decision to finally sit down with Israeli officials to discuss issues is an important first step toward achieving a two-state solution. One of the principal impediments to peace, however, remains Palestinian terrorism. To its credit, thanks in large measure to U.S. training and cooperation with Israel, the Palestinian Authority has significantly reduced the attacks and threats from the West Bank. The Palestinians originally promised to cease all terror when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin agreed to mutual recognition.1 They have reiterated this pledge in each succeeding agreement without yet fulfilling the commitment. For example, in 2011 alone, the following attacks occurred: March 11 - Udi Fogel, 36, and Ruth Fogel, 35, along with three of their children Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and 3-month-old Hadas were stabbed to death by terrorists in their home in Itamar, in northern Samaria.2 March 23 - One woman, identified by the police as a 56-year-old British tourist, was killed and about 50 people wounded when a bomb exploded across from the Jerusalem Convention Center, near the Central Bus Station. The bomb had been placed near a telephone booth at a crowded bus stop next to Egged city bus #74.3 April 24 - Ben-Yosef Livnat, 24, of Jerusalem was killed by a Palestinian policeman at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus.4 September 23 - Asher Palmer, 25, and his year old son Yonatan of Kiryat Arba were killed when their car crashed on Route 60 near Hebron, after being struck by stones.5 These are just the attacks that have succeeded; terrorists regularly attempt to infiltrate Israel or to mount other attacks in the West Bank. The much criticized security fence and the handful of remaining checkpoints, however, continue to save the lives of innocent Israeli Jews and Arabs. For instance, on January 7, 2012, Israel Border Police thwarted a major terror attack originating from Jenin when they captured four Palestinians carrying 11 pipe bombs, a pistol and a commando knife at the Salem Crossing in the northern West Bank. They are suspected of having planned to attack a military court.6 The Palestinian Authority continues to lack any control whatsoever over the Gaza Strip and the terrorists operating there. In fact, PA President Mahmoud Abbas continues to seek an alliance with Hamas, the party responsible for the ongoing terror emanating from their area of control. Since February 2009, Hamas has fired at least 633 rockets and 405 mortar shells from Gaza at Israeli civilian areas.7 In addition to creating a constant level of anxiety for hundreds of thousands of Israelis living in southern Israel, many of these attacks have had deadly results. In 2011, the following Israelis were killed and injured: April 7 - Daniel Viflic, 16, of Bet Shemesh, died (April 17) of mortal wounds suffered when an anti-tank missile was fired at a school bus in the Negev near Kibbutz Sa'ad just moments after it had dropped off the rest of the school children.8 August 18 - Eight Israeli citizens were killed and more than 40 wounded in a multi-pronged terrorist attack north of Eilat in southern Israel. Five civilians were killed when terrorists opened fire on a passenger bus and another civilian was killed in a separate attack on an empty bus. An IDF combat soldier was killed when his jeep hit an IED placed on the road and a member of the Israeli police special SWAT unit was killed when his unit led heavy fighting against a group of retreating terrorists. The victims: sisters Flora Gaz (52) and Shula Karlinsky (54) and their husbands - Moshe Gaz and Dov Karlinsky (58); Yosef Levi (58); St Sgt Moshe Naftali (22) of the Golani Brigade; SWAT Cpt Paskal Avrahami (49); and Yitzhak Sela (56), of Be'er Sheva, was driving the bus. The Popular Reistance Committees, responsible for the terrorist attacks, is an independent terrorist organization in Gaza, supported, subsidized and trained by Hamas.9 August 20 - Yossi Shoshan, 38, from the small town of Ofakim in southern Israel, was killed when a GRAD rocket shot by Gaza terrorists landed near him in Be'er Sheva as he was driving to find his pregnant wife who was hiding from the attacks.10 August 22 - Eliyahu Naim, 79, who sustained serious head injury while running for cover during an Ashkelon rocket attack died at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Sept 4, 2011.11 October 29 - Moshe Ami, 56, a father of four from Ashkelon, was killed when shrapnel from a GRAD rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza hit his car.12 Furthermore, the IDF believes that the amount of weaponry that has been smuggled into Gaza in 2011 has increased by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year in part due to weapons brought in from Libya amidst the turmoil there. Israel is particularly concerned about sophisticated Russian-made antitank missiles and shoulder-to-air missiles.13 Previous efforts to move the peace process forward have been thwarted by Palestinian terror and could do so again. The only way to convince the people of Israel that Palestinians are sincere about ending the conflict is to put a permanent end to violence and the ongoing incitement that encourages terror. 1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "107 Israel-PLO Mutual Recognition- Letters and Speeches- 10 September 1993," MFA, September 10, 1993. 2Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Fogel family stabbed to death in Itamar,"MFA, March 11, 2011. 3AFP, "British tourist killed by Jerusalem bomb,"AFP, March 24, 2011. 4 Yair Altman, "Livnat: My nephew murdered by terrorists masked as policemen,"YNet, April 24, 2011. 5Ben Hartman and Jpost.com staff, "Defense Ministry: Asher Palmer, son were terror victims,"Jerusalem Post, September 28, 2011. 6 Yaakov Katz, "Border Police thwart major terror attack near Jenin,"Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2012. 7 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Palestinian ceasefire violations since the end of Operation Cast Lead,"MFA, January 4, 2012. 8 Haaretz Service, "Boy hurt in Gaza rocket attack on Israeli bus dies of his wounds,"Haaretz, April 17, 2011. 9 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Eight killed, over 30 wounded in terror attacks in southern Israel,"MFA, August 18, 2011. 10 Yaakov Lappin, "Man killed by Beersheba rocket named: Yossi Shoshan, 38,"Jerusalem Post, August 21, 2011. 11 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Eliyahu Naim,"MFA, September 4, 2011. 12 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Moshe Ami,"MFA, October 29, 2011. 13 Yaakov Katz, "Analysis: A boiling pot waiting to explode,"Jerusalem Post, December 29, 2011.