Chicago, IL, July 29, 1994 -- There may, in actuality, be no rational explanation of the most recent wave of violent attacks against Israel and her allies. On the other hand, by gaining a historical perspective, we may be able to better understand the issues that have resulted in the current dilemma. The roots of the problem date back to May, 14, 1948, when the British Mandate, and control of the "Holy Lands", expired. A guerrilla war between Jewish settlers and previous Palestinian inhabitants has continued, almost unabated, since that time. Territorial claims to Jerusalem and the surrounding areas have been presented by many groups, but the force of arms has prevailed, and Israel has repeatedly been able to defend its sovereignty.
1956 brought the Suez Canal Crisis, and an Israeli advance into the Sinai, prompted by English and French complicity in a plan to take the strategic canal away from the Egyptians. The fledgling Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) performed admirably and territorial gains resulted.
In 1967, Palestinian raiders from Syria increasingly put the lives of Jewish immigrants in danger. Encouraged by the U.S.S.R., Egypt, and its charismatic leader Gamal Nasser, was thought to have "expansionist" tendencies, and a desire to invade Israel. As 100,000 Egyptian troops massed on the Sinai, Israel took the only action available to prevent certain defeat...on June 5, 1967, they attacked. A brilliantly planned air attack destroyed almost the entire Egyptian air force as it sat on the ground. By gaining air superiority, the Israelis were then able to maneuver their tank corps with impunity, not fearing Egyptian air attacks. A series of armored cavalry and tank task forces then advanced rapidly and surrounded or cut-off Egyptian defenders. Six days later, it turned into a rout, and the Israelis gained both territory and the respect of other military forces in the region.
Reference/Summary of 1967 Middle-East War
The 1967 Middle East War, also known as the Six Day War, was the third conflict
between Israel and neighbouring Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
Visit the BBC website for an interactive presentation:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457035/html/default.stm
By October 6, 1973, Egypt had all but forgotten its devastating defeat at the hands of the Israelis. Again encouraged by the Soviet Union, Nasser and Anwar Sadat decided that the time had come to again attempt to demonstrate that Egypt and the Arabs were stronger than Israel. Encouraged by massive amounts of Soviet military aid, and hundreds of T54 and T55 tanks provided by the U.S.S.R., the Egyptians believed that they could easily defeat the smaller Israeli army. They began their assault on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.
The Egyptian aggression met with initial success, largely due to a failure of Israeli intelligence. They failed to believe that Egypt would undertake another war so soon after their previous defeat. For three days, the Israelis suffered heavy losses, both of men and materials. The Egyptians, however, also suffered the pains of their attack. Massive armored assaults continued, with Israel eventually scoring a major victory on the Golan Heights. Both sides were resupplied; Israel by the United States, and Egypt and her allies by the Soviet Union. By October 23rd, it was obvious that the IDF had once again prevailed. The Israelis had again defended their homeland.
By 1979, Israel and Egypt had begun to resolve their differences and negotiate a settlement to the possession of disputed lands in the Sinai and the West Bank. A historic Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was finally worked out and signed at Camp David in the United States. It signaled the first possibility of Israel bargaining away land for peace. Further, it strengthened a relationship between the United States and Egypt. Unfortunately, it also stirred the wrath of the PLO and other extremist groups that claimed Israel as their "homeland". The stage was set for continued negotiations by Israel and further terrorist acts by those that would attempt to defeat her.
During the 70's and early 80's, Lebanon became a "hotbed" or revolutionary thought and action. Conflicts between various religious "surrogate" military forces embroiled the formerly placid resort country into a place torn by civil strife and religious fervor. In keeping with this migration, members of the PLO, Islamic Jihad, Black September(Abu Nidal Organization), PFLP, and dozens of other Islamic and Palestinian "freedom movements" emigrated to Lebanon and set up bases. Beirut itself became a battleground for conflicts between the various religious and nationalist organizations. Soon the entire country was involved in the anarchy, and several elected government have fallen or their leaders assassinated. Cross border raids, into Israel, also began and escalated.
The United States has been inextricably involved in both counter-terrorism and the Middle-East situation since a failed mission to Beirut that resulted in the destruction of a U.S. Marine Barracks on October 23rd, 1983, and the deaths of 241 Marines. Concurrent with the attack on the U.S. "peacekeepers" was a devastating attack on as French Foreign Legion Compound nearby. Several dozen French paratroops also died on that fateful day. The day of the Shi'ite suicide truck bomb had begun.
The mid-to-late 80's brought continued terrorist attacks against Israel, on her border with Lebanon. Terrorist attacks let to military reprisals and incursions by Israel. Moslem extremists and PLO sympathizers carried out skyjackings, bombings, and street riots against Israel and her allies. Nations like Iraq, Iran, Libya, and Syria were soon tied to complicity in terrorist acts against Israel and the countries that supported her. Both the tempo and ferocity of the aggressions seemingly increased with each passing year.
America and her sphere of influence continued to prompt Israel to make peace with her neighbors. Both military and financial incentives were given to Israel to encourage less militant actions and reward diplomatic initiatives that might lead to peace. Yet, both internal and external conflicts prevented many Israelis from adapting a peaceful stance towards their Arab neighbors. They had suffered far to many casualties, during their forty (40) year struggle for independence and sovereignty, to easily give back the land that had been won with blood. The negotiations, although cautious, continued throughout the Middle-East.
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Israel displayed the greatest restraint in the history of the often beleaguered country. Even though they were repeated struck by Iraq's SCUD missiles, they refused to retaliate, largely because of requests and reassurances from the United States that their inaction would best serve the Allied Coalition in it's overall goal of defeating Iraq. The Persian Gulf conflict also cemented relationships between Israel and several of her Arab neighbors, lessening tensions and improving diplomatic ties.
Strangely enough, the development of these diplomatic and financial ties may have further "fanned the fires" of radical Islamic Fundamentalism. A Washington-brokered 1993 Peace Accord between Israel and the PLO seems to have been the impetuous of the latest round of terrorist atrocities. As the likelihood of a peaceful subdivision of Israel came to fruition, the radicals began calls for a complete subjugation of Israel and total annexation of the country. Several Palestinian "splinter groups", not represented by the PLO, were not satisfied with a "limited self-rule" agreement for parts of Israel...they wanted the whole country. Since then, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of terrorist incidents directed against the Israelis and her allies. Which brings us to the present.
It should be noted that concurrent with the historic struggle for a Palestinian homeland, a major "Islamic Revolution" occurred in Iran. Although the Iranians may have supported the basic principals of the return of Israel to the Palestinians, they also set out on an "expansionist" campaign of their own. Beginning in 1987, the Intifada, or Holy War, was begun, with the expressed intent of exporting the Iranian brand of Fundamentalist Moslem religion to the rest of the Middle-East and even the world. The Khomeini regime' also chose Israel as an enemy, further compounding and expanding conflicts in the region.
Israel's fight against Iranian-backed terrorist organizations is probably the most complex problem facing the world today. The organizational structure of the many extremist splinter groups is a bewildering maze of interlocking "cells" that may act as surrogates of Iran or independently, as the leader of each group may see fit. Although the weapons, explosives, and training may have been provided to each group by Iran, the actual control of each group is probably a "local" decision.
Admittedly, Iran may have influence with hundreds of these types of small groups, and even be able to encourage them to undertake specific terrorist acts, Iran doesn't have absolute authority over their actions. This very fact complicates the possibility of apprehension of the terrorists, or military revenge against a given country. Iran has what is called, in diplomatic and intelligence circles, "deniable plausibility". In other words, they can honestly deny direct involvement, even though they may have supplied all of the necessary elements and religiously condoned the action.
It is believed that this is the case in recent bombings in Argentina, Panama, and London, England. The organization, or organizations, responsible for these atrocities may have no "direct traceable link" with Iran, even though they may have been previously paid, equipped, and encouraged by Iran. Each of these belligerences has probably been carried out by a small team of experts, often from different "extremist" groups, who were assembled for the purpose of committing the specific act. Almost always, this is done with the assistance of a local accomplice or accomplices, who are responsible for acquiring equipment, weapons, explosives, and vehicles. In each case, however, we see one or more "fanatics", who are Moslem zealots and prepared to die for the cause of Islamic expansionism.
The organizational structure of these "mission specific" terrorist groups provides for a maximum of security, in that the members don't even know each other, should they be caught and interrogated. Secondarily, it further complicates the process of establishing responsibility for the act. A typical example would include the World Trade Center Bombing, which included "experts" from several countries. In some cases, their only common element was an Islamic zeal to cause damage to "The Great Satan", that is the United States. Thus, the problem confronting the both Israel and the United States at the time of this report.
Both the U.S. State Department and FBI have reportedly issued warnings, within the past six hours, that they have received a "credible threat" against Jewish targets within the United States. Huge sand trucks have been moved to block the front of the Israel embassy in New York City. The Israeli Consulate is Washington, DC is said to be on "full-alert", with additional barricades installed and parking prohibited in the area. A senior emergency service official, in New York City, says that Fire, Police, and EMS services have adapted an "increased state of alert" there, and are awaiting further information about the potential threat.
Most counter-terrorist analysts are presently urging extreme caution, but also don't want to unnecessarily alarm the general populace with unconfirmed reports of possible terrorist acts. In general, local, state, and federal officials seem to be taking the threat seriously, but with reserved optimism that a catastrophic event can be avoided by preparedness. So...the country waits, in heightened awareness, for the heinous act that everyone hopes will never come.
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