NATIONS THAT DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT. JEWISH HISTORY IS FULL OF BLOOD AND DEFEAT, BUT ALSO GREATNESS. LET US TAKE THE POSITIVE AND SUPPRESS THE NEGATIVES IN OUR CHARACTER AND HISTORY.
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Expanded Reflections: A Political Order of Battle
Prof. Paul Eidelberg
Former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton recently raised the question of a possible Israeli attack on Iran . Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Bolton urged the US to aid Israel before, during, and after such an attack—if it should take place.
This may mean that Bolton does not believe a US attack on Iran is in the cards. Indeed, pundits report that Washington is opposed to an Israeli preemptive strike because it would “destabilize” the region. And what would a nuclear armed-Iran do to the region—especially now that Vladimir Putin (allied with Iran) is restoring the Cold War, largely by means of Russia’s oil and gas resources on which Europe is dependent?
What does all this mean for Israel ? The continuance of a Kadima-led government can only spell further disaster—and not only because Kadima is committed to territorial retreat from Judea and Samaria . That very commitment signifies that the leaders of that ersatz party do not have the guts to deal with the Iranian threat.
What about Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, if should he become Israel ’s prime minister? It was with this question in mind that I recently urged that he submit a bill to abrogate the Oslo Agreement.
You may counter: What can Netanyahu do if the IDF continues to act on the principle that self-restraint is a form of strength—this, confronted by the most ruthless of enemies, Muslims who exult in death? What can Netanyahu do if concern with world opinion preoccupies his mentality? Yes, what can little Israel do in this world of Goliaths?
Hence, a word from Metternich: “Weaker states can ill-afford merely to react to events; they must also try to initiate them.” The State of Israel is weak only because it has weak leaders on the one hand, and an inept system of government on the other. Both had better be changed as soon as possible.
“[The] City-State Singapore did just that,” writes Bob Warren. He goes on to say this about Singapore : “A small area of overseas-Chinese surrounded by hostile nations that had oil wealth, the new Singapore state made a chart of the political order of battle. Next, they listed their few national assets. They then took the initiative.
“Today, Singapore has more foreign exchange reserves than India . It has a core population that is loyal to the state. It is a healthy place to live. If sleepy Pakistan can possess unconventional ordnance, Singapore is not depending on the rattan palm leaf.”
Warren concludes: “As recently as today, we do NOT have a political order of battle chart.” Okay Israel : Let us form a political order of battle. We have the brains. Let us assemble the men. Having drawn up a political order of battle—keeping in mind five related enemies, Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran—we can then publish it in the newspapers here and abroad.
We want to awaken people. We want to annoy Israel ’s do-nothing Olmert-Livni-Mofaz government. We want to needle Israel ’s do-nothing opposition parties. We want to arouse in the minds of Israelis and Americans that a virtual government exists in Israel , one that offers an alternative to paralysis and defeatism.
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TIME FOR ISRAEL AND AMERICA TO
END THEIR POLICY OF RESTRAINT
END THEIR POLICY OF RESTRAINT
By Bernard J. Shapiro (2001)
"He who is merciful when he should be cruel will in the end be cruel when he should be merciful."...Midrash Samuel (Jewish rabbinic text from early Middle Ages)
From the very early days of the Haganah and continuing with the emerging Israel Defense Forces (IDF), there was a policy of self-restraint or havlagah. This policy mandated that defenders could only return fire, hold their positions, and never to engage in counter-terror. This policy was based on the false premise that the Arab masses did not support the war against the Yishuv (the Jewish population before independence) and then the State of Israel and would be brought into the conflict if Israeli forces were too aggressive.
There were some good and practical reasons for restraint in the early days. There was legitimate fear that the British would cut off immigration if the Jews were to go on the offensive against the Arabs. Havlagah was essentially a Haganah (Labor/Socialist) policy and many supporters of Jabotinsky's Revisionist Zionist movement broke off from them to form fighting units (Irgun Zvai Leumi and Stern) unrestrained by that policy.
The modern IDF was dominated by Labor and quickly adopted the policy of restraint and the concept of "purity of arms" as its official doctrine. The later reinforced the former by adding that a soldier should never have to obey an illegal order to commit some atrocity. The enemy, including prisoners of war, should be treated with dignity and civilian populations should be spared as much harm as possible, even if this causes greater Israeli casualties. There was some flexibility in this strict moral code.
This policy of restraint may have been practical during the pre-state days and even during the early years of Israeli independence. These periods were characterized by weakness and relative dependence on foreign goodwill. Following the Six Day War in 1967, the need for havlagah decreased and the damage it caused began to become more evident. Israel became the preeminent power in the Middle East, yet failed to grasp the strategic opportunities that came with such dominance. Here are some of the historical highlights of the failed policy of restraint:
1. Following the Six Day War (1967) and the capture of Jerusalem, Moshe Dayan turned over control of Judaism's most sacred place, the Temple Mount, to Moslem authorities. He did it to appease their sensibilities to the Israeli capture of the city. Jewish rights were ignored to please the defeated Arabs, who had plotted our destruction. Dayan also prevented a mass exodus of Arabs from YESHA, which ultimately led to the problems we face today.
2. During the War of Attrition with Egypt (1969-70), the Israeli forces adopted primarily a defensive posture. They built a system of bunkers (The Bar Lev Line) along the Suez Canal. Israeli soldiers were heavily pounded daily by Egyptian artillery. Finally they began to use aircraft to strike targets deep into Egypt. The policy of restraint kept them from striking anything but military and minor economic targets. Israeli soldiers died because the government was inhibited from causing Egypt 'real' pain.
3. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 is a classic example of restraint run amok. Israeli military intelligence did not fail to recognize the approaching danger as has been the common account. In fact, Israel's leaders made the political decision not to utilize the great power of the IDF to crush the Egyptian and Syrian armies that they KNEW were planning to attack. Thousands of Israeli soldiers died needlessly.
4. The Camp David Accord with Egypt was another example of the failure to exert Israeli power. The oil fields of Sinai would have given Israel economic independence from America. The cost of redeployment from Sinai placed Israel in almost permanent debt to American diplomacy (often pro-Arab). Did Israel achieve anything worthwhile at Camp David? I think not and believe history will bear me out. Egypt has become one of the most ant-Semitic and hostile Arab countries in the world. As a result of Camp David, the Egyptian army now threatens Israel, having been equipped with the most modern American weapons.
5. During the War in Lebanon (1982), the IDF reached Beirut and then failed to complete the destruction of the PLO. Our enemies were allowed to escape and prepare to fight another day. Why didn't the Israeli Navy sink the ships loaded with PLO troops (including Arafat) as they fled Beirut? RESTRAINT!
6. In 1987 the intifada began and the Israeli forces showed great restraint and thus were incapable of crushing it. Of course, Israel received no credit in the Western media for such restraint. The failure to defeat this uprising began a process of demoralization among the Israeli population.
7. The Persian Gulf War (1991) and the SCUD attacks on Israel led to further demoralization. The failure to adequately respond to Iraq's aggression and the humiliating sealed rooms, led to a rapid decline in Israeli morale and desire to defend itself. More and more Israelis began to feel impotent, weak and fatigued with the continuous battle for survival. The Oslo Accords were the logical outcome of this depression and feeling that they could not sustain the struggle.
8. The Oslo Accords (1993) were the ultimate failure of the policy of restraint. Israel like America actually was very powerful. The IDF was unequaled in the Middle East while the US was the most powerful nation in the world. Yet despite this power, Israel's leaders, were ready to grant equal status to a band of murderers and ultimately create a state of "Palestine" which would challenge its right to the Land and its capital of Jerusalem.
9. Israeli forces in Lebanon should have been given a free hand to 'punish' all those who facilitate attacks on them including Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. There should be no more agreements that tie Israeli hands.
The damage caused by havlagah (restraint) has been immense and it far past time to reverse that policy. Americans have been viciously attacked in Africa, Yeman, and Saudi Arabia. The attempt to try to criminalize terrorism has been a dreadful mistake. Terrorism is sponsored by states who allow their territory and funds to help the organization of terrorist. The Oslo agreement allowed Arafat to set up terrorist headquarters near Israel's heartland. From there he sent terrorists to attack Israel.With plausible deniability he claims "he is not responsible."
Dr. Aaron Lerner of the Independent Media Review & Analysis in Israel reports that Palestinians are celebrating attacks against USA across the West Bank Israel Radio reported this afternoon that young Palestinians across the West Bank are celebrating the terrorist attacks against the USA - waving Palestinian flags and handing out candy. There are reports of shooting in some places but it is not clear if it is Palestinian police trying to clear streets of celebrants or Palestinians shooting in the air. The largest crowd, according to Israel Radio, is in the Balata refugee camp.
The American State Department policy of equating terrorist and defender equally must stop. This kind of moral equivalency allows the terrorist to believe he can do no wrong.
Both America and Israel must massively and disproportionately retaliate for terrorist attacks. The murderers of Americans and Israelis must be stopped. It is not impossible but it will be a long and difficult battle.
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Bernard J. Shapiro is Executive Director of the Freeman Center For Strategic Studies and editor of THE MACCABEAN ONLINE, its monthly Internet magazine.
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