The Arab Revolution is knocking at Israel's door
For Israel, the risk that Syria President Bashar Assad would undermine calm of northern border less threatening than prospect of him toppled; Israel blames Assad and Iran for border infiltration on Nakba Day.
By Aluf BennThe Arab revolution knocked on Israel's door yesterday, in Nakba Day demonstrations carried out by Palestinians from Syria and Lebanon in Majdal Shams and in Marour al-Ras. The demonstrators entering the Druze village in the foothills of Mount Hermon shattered the illusion that Israel can live comfortably, a "villa in the jungle," cut off entirely from the dramatic events surrounding it.
More than the revolution in any other Arab country, the uprising against the Assad regime in Syria has threatened to spill over into Israel. President Bashar Assad hoped that his position as the leader of the "opposition" to Israel would save him from the fate of his counterparts in Tunisia and Egypt. When his seat became unstable, there was concern that Assad, or whoever replaces him, would try to escalate the conflict with Israel in order to regain legitimacy among the Syrian public and the Arab world at large.
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Television stills capture protests in Majdal Shams, after hundreds reportedly infiltrated from Syria on Nakba Day, May 15, 2011. |
But the risk that Assad would undermine the calm and stability on the northern border was seen by Israel as less threatening than the prospect that he could be toppled. For that reason, Israel refrained from intervening in support of the uprising against him. The IDF could have deployed a large force on the Golan Heights out of "fear of escalation," and thereby diverted the Syrian army to the other side of the border, away from the protesters in Daraa and Homs. But instead, Israel adopted a policy of sitting still and letting Assad suppress the uprising in the hope that deterrence and stability be preserved.
This calm was disturbed yesterday and the nightmare scenario Israel has feared since its inception became real - that Palestinian refugees would simply start walking from their camps toward the border and would try to exercise their "right of return." Israel prepared for demonstrations of Nakba Day in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, in the Galilee and the Triangle, but instead it was the Palestinian diaspora that tried to climb its fences. More than an intelligence lapse, the situation highlighted the limits of power. It is impossible to control the whole arena and spread forces everywhere. There is always a spot that remains unprotected and one's rival can exploit it.
Israel was quick to blame Assad and, as usual, also Iran, for dispatching "Syrian and Lebanese rabble-rousers," according to the IDF spokesman, "in order to divert attention from the crushing of demonstrations in Syria."
But it is hard to imagine that Israeli policy in the north will change, and that Israel would try to heat up the border as a response in order to assist in toppling Assad and to replace him with a more convenient regime. Israel will try to ensure this remain an isolated incident and to restore calm in the area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to use the incident up north to strengthen his public relations campaign in Washington. As far as he's concerned, this is further proof that Israel is confronted by forces bent on its destruction.
"This is not a struggle over the 1967 borders," Netanyahu said in response to the incident on the Golan border, "but a challenge to the existence of the State of Israel, which they describe as a catastrophe that must be rectified."
Netanyahu scored another little victory yesterday after President Barack Obama announced he would address the AIPAC Conference. Obama does not intend to appear before the stronghold of Israel's supporters in America in order to attack the settlements and the occupation. His decision to appear there, rather than sending his vice president, suggests that Obama does not intend to clash with Netanyahu in their upcoming meeting.
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The Palestinians and the Arabs in generals must understand that there is no way Israel can allow million of Palestinian refugees to return. This is suicide and no sane government or country would be willing to repatriate this staggering numbers of hostile refugees. In many past conflicts from around the world, refugees were often absorbed into the general population. For example this took place in Finland during the 1930's, India and Pakistan, as well as Greece and Turkey. I respectfully think that the various Arab governments should quit using the Palestinian refugees to advance their own "interests" and allow these people citizenship. On the other hand, I think Israel must also understand that occupying the West Bank and building illegal settlements is unproductive and unattractive to all those involved. Thus, both side must agree to a two state solution before it’s too late! In simple terms the statistics and demographics of ethnic cleansing knows no boundary, respects no borders, laws or even a constitution. Live and let live!
Some people just can't help it...
revolution the same as it has done with promoting the Nakba "day" and violant "protests".
israel nees also to change its narrow minded and extremist leaders. Young and open minded peace lover leaders should take place in israel.
NOW MOVE OUT OF PA AREA!
Iran has successfully used the Israel card to become the regional powerhouse. As Arab leaders stupidly fall into the Ayotollahs game,it is only a matter of time until they control middle eatern policies and soverngnty.
It would be a good sight if all the corners of Israel will be swarmed by Palestinians rearing to go home and live a decent life.
Arabs politicians sending civilians to fight IDF!
Since Israel's ideclaration, Arab regimes practically became border guards to Israel regardless of the cover, peace treaty, armistice or shear fear of retaliation. All popular resistance or Jihad to stand to Israel were suppresssed and substituted by a bizarre and humiliating status quo. Assad, the father and the son, Jordan (father and son too) and Egypt (father only) had given Israel peace and quiet for decades. Even deviant PLO under arafat and Abbas had marveled to serve Israel and ruthlessly suppressed any form of resistance against Israel. All that is now may evaporate and popular resistance would be back. Stability and permanancy is lied to justice and accptance which is in the case of Israel is non-exixtent.
every attack, incident will be blamed onto someone else, not israels refusal to make peace... he MUST do it, because leaving the room (west bank) and closing the door (border) would be too easy... the israeli public will pay the price for the settlers... they are protected by secured fences, security guards, IDF is mostly less than a phone call away... so, the israeli public will be targeted... they will pay the price for the settlers...
Very soon they will complain that Israel didn't let "the peaceful" DEMONstrators cross the borders... are the funny, those guys!
No way that silly riots raging in Arab countries to visit Israel... Israel is the only country that is different in this part of the world. Nothing to worry.
No way that silly riots raging in Arab countries to visit Israel... Israel is the only country that is different in this part of the world. Nothing to worry.
arab revolution is knocking at israels doors it was high time to accept it
Nato must declare a no fly zone over Palestine. NATO ground forces must mobilize against Israelis killing the native people of Palestine. A government that kills the native people is illegitimate and cannot be recognized by the United Nations.
Netanyahu is taking his eyes off the ball. He needs to learn from history! I don't think playing 'the good guy' will prevent the worst case scenario from unfolding sometime 'out of the blue'. Mubarak can be the case learn from! Regarded as the 'custodian' of the arab-israeli relations; he was disowned by his self-confessed friends. Remember the good words Cheney talked about him? He's weeping in dark, alone!!
Well. Looks funny. Every time I make a comment in Haaretz they just ignor it. What is the deal? are you so afraid of the other voice. It looks so. However, Israel's honey moon appears to be over. The arab regimes that used to protect Israel are falling and who is falling next.. the asnswer is you Isarelis So the bad days are in the horizons hard luck
israel has nothing to do with the putative arab revolutions. israel needs to secure her borders and keep out enemies from neighbouring countries. those who crossed from syria into israel committed a breach of the armistice line and agreements with hostile intent. they are committing acts of war. calling them demonstrators is a self-deception. their purpose is to invade israel and to take over the country. they are enemies and they must be dealt with as enemies.
Time to wake up see the wide perspective
Some will belong to them, but not the amount you want. Most Palestinians came from Egypt and Jordan which are their homelands.
Khaled Al-Azm, Syria`s Prime Minister after the 1948 war: "Since 1948 it is we who demanded the return of the refugees... while it is we who made them leave.... We brought disaster upon ... Arab refugees, by inviting them and bringing pressure to bear upon them to leave.... We have rendered them dispossessed.... We have accustomed them to begging.... We have participated in lowering their moral and social level.... Then we exploited.".....they should blame their parents and Arab leaders instead of Israel.
The people in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, etc... are demonstrating PEACEFULLY for the right to live in a democratic society without corrupt leaders who steal from the people they purport to help. The Palestinians rioting on the Golan, in Lebanon and in the West Bank & Gaza are trying to use this as a pretext to gain international attention for their cause. Especially in the Golan where the Druze were furious about this riot - did you see the Druze guy body-slam the guy carrying the Palestinian flag? These were Palestinian Carpetbaggers on Druze Land and they hate the Palestinians because they bring trouble just like they destroyed Lebanon.
talk of un armed civilians trying to infiltrate the boarder of a sovreign state.Israel has a right to defend its self.In any case those that tried to unlawfully infltrate the israeli boarder are responsible for what happened to them. what did the world expect??? the soldiers simply stand back and watch on as these people crossed into israel!!!
They already exist in the eastern 3/4s of Sykes-Picot Palestine.
The USA is a pathetic puppet of Israel. Americans lack the backbone to reclaim their own country. Unlike the Palestinians.
"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it." - Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001, to Shimon Peres, as reported on Kol Yisrael radio.
Its a concerted attack on Jews, plain and simple. Only in the upside down world of the left are Israelis guilty for fending off alien intruders onto sovereign land.
The leftist politicians created Israel in its early days. I think you have a leftist paranoid obsession. The way you think: right is pro Israel and left is pro Pals, this kind of concept is only for brainless people who are not able to have their own opinion. Hitler was leftist or rightist? No answer... Rightists or leftists, the people of this world who believe in justice, freedom and truth will never support an Israel who's governement is under the influence of the Jewish Talibans and the umbrella of the AIPAC. This is why israel is so isolated from the rest of the World.
Stop the occupaiton and endorse and allow a Palestinian sttate and Israel will live in peace. Nobody welse is to blame ,
It takes two to tango, and since you're 300 million and the aggressors, your concessions must be first. Considering just 3 days ago Hamas said that even with a palestinian state it would continue to kill Israelis, we peace lovers don't hold our breath.
Since this conflict seems so complicated lets do a small scale : Israel will evacuate a small but defined part of the occupied areas, uproot its settlers, and leave entirely - no roadblocks no soldiers no Jews. The Arabs can then have some time to show what they do when the occupation is gone. Lets hope they -- oh wait a minute. This already happened in 2005 in Gaza. There is no more occupation, not a single Jew to be found. Judenrein. But yet there is no peace only the most fulminant of Muslim fundamentalism and violence has made its home there. I would suggest the Israelis dont do anything rash, but wait another generation, maybe the Arabs will change and there can be peace. What is one more generation to wait for an Arab Palestinian state. The Jews waited 2000 years to return.
Every Arab country is occupied. Have you not understood why there are 11 of the ME countries in one form of rebellion or another? These rebellions are against Arab leaders not Israeli leaders. Israel is the only democracy in the region. Learn to understand freedom, and you might find it?
and if your constipated is that Israel's fault too?! Your Human beings start taking responsibility for yourselves. I
Thank you for adding your 2 cents worth. I'm sure it's that simple and easy. Can you guarantee that Israel will live in peace? Really and truly 100% guarantee your statement? That's what I thought.
All they are asking in return is that Israel recognize the state of Palestine i.e. they do not insist that Israel recognize the "Arab state of Palestine", any more than they accept that they have to recognize the "Jewish state of Israel".
As a Palestinian American who believes in Peace and Democracy I was moved by all the youth who rushed the borders to claim their right to return to their HOMELAND,ONLY TO BE MET with deadly force that took many lives.The refugees in Jordan,Lebanon,Syria and Egypt have the right to return to Palestine any time.
Just like the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab countries, they deserve compensation but there is no 'right' for them to go back. If you want to play the compensation game, you will lose big time as the amount of land and money the Jews lost was much greater so I suggest that you petition Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, etc... to grant you citizenship so you can live your life.
Israel accepted partition plan, Arabs chose war. They lost. There are consequences. The great grandchildren, UNRWA notwithstanding, are not refugees, and citizens of Israel. You are American? Your ignorance astounds me.
You can;t be a "refugee" from a place that you have never fled from or even been present in. Being a descendant of a refugee does not make you a refugee.
What always seems particularly hard to understand about the Israel/Palestine conflict is Jewish belief that it's natural for them to return to their land after 2,000 years, but that a few decades of oppressing the Palestinians and shooting at them will be sufficient to crush their dedication to returning.
Zionist, not Jewish
Return to Ramallah or invade Tiberias and Tel-Aviv? They have tried multiple times to invade Israel and kill jews since before 1949. Don't underestimate a people's ability to defend themselves when failure means genocide and the destruction of your homeland. This is why Israelis won even without technology against the armies of 7 invading states, multiple times.
The Palestinians are Sunnis so is Saudi Arabia Iraq and other arab countries. the Palestinian language is arabic so is Lebanon, Saudi arabia,yemen , Egypt Etc.. The Palestinians can't even pronounce the letter P. Yet they named there homeland with the letter P. the Arab Palestinians started in 1964 3 years before Jordan lost the west bank to Israel. How could you be upset with Israel 3 years before Israel took control?!
The settlers have to cease land-robbing and building forthwith, and possibly to reconsider re-locating to Galilee or to Negev... if relocation is impossible, for whatever reason, at leasr the highway robbery should cease forthwith... and future folk with the yen to settle in wide open spaces have ample opportunity to do so within sovreign Israel... but one thing is certain, the settler robbery cannot continue...
It is their right. They do not have the right to kill Jews, but they do have the right to return to Israel and live in peace. They also have the right to their property. See the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 13 and 17. When a Jew returns to Israel, it is called Aliyah. Why do you call a Pal returning an invasion?
the jews returned, after the UN gave them a homeland - which was not and much smaller than the initial one... the palestinians can return to their brand new state, which the UN will give them, too... got it ? :)
Palestine is already freed. The Jews are back home
The Jews returning to the land did not claim to be "refugees" just because their ancestors were made refugees by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Palestinians claiming a right to live in Haifa, Jaffa, Acre and Tel Aviv are no better than Jews who refer to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria and claim a right to live there.
Dear Brit. It was you dudes in the form of Sykes-Picot that setup the mess in the first place. You cleaved off the eastern 3/4's and invented trans Jordan that morphed into,plain Jordan. If the western rump,now Israel can be considered Pal then so can the lost3/4 3/43/43/4s
We can not pronouns "P", I agree but we call it "Falestin" and not "Palestine" in our language. To clarify things to you, all Palestinians were Christians before the seventh century. The Palestinians like the Egyptians and other nations of the ME, they spoke Arabic and got mixed with the "Arabs of Arabia" only after the Arabs of Arabia defeated the Romans in the Seventh century. Search the internet for the covenant of Omar between the Muslims and the Palestinians of Jerusalem. However, 25% of the Palestinians still Christians. I also want to tell you something, most of Palestinians have Jewish roots. Actually all the Jews who followed Jesus became Christians and most of them became Muslims in the seventh century. Believe it or not, we are Jews by race more the current jews. They call the Palestinians the jews of the Arab world.
This is a good example of how contagion (the spread of things at scale, often across boundaries of activity) works in an often unprobably and unplanned way. It will also highlight the weakness of 'expert' opinion as I am sure no one in any intelligence service, no political analyst, foresaw this event, a four-part people uprising from outside. I'm not going to speculate what this will mean, or what outcomes we will see. Just the point that it is a contagion phenomenon - and we'll see what things spread and how they do it.
Israel does not sit quietly or so comfortabley. They are always anticipating an attack based on their existence.
Poor little tiny Israel that must, against its own will, occupy a foreign and stateless population, for already 44 years - and build permanent settlements for its own religious fanatics, on a land outside its declared sovereignty. Poor poor Israel, "always anticipating an attack on its existence", all alone in this wicked world.
It seems that standing for dictatorship is Netanyahu's vision. What will happen in Israel? What commitment to democracy does Netanyahu have?
Israel will act against THE ENEMY. See the difference, Mark ?? These dictators turned against their own people. Funny, I don't hear you howling against Assad for slaughtering his people. Israel will do, whatever it takes, regardless of the enemy's casualties.
are under Israeli control. You are responsible for their welfare.
Killing large numbers of unarmed civilians is not helping Bibi's case. The IDF was not threatened. Like the Mavi Marmara, the truth will out.
A stampede of aggressive rock-throwers, who broke down fences and out numbered the security forces are hardly the peaceful civilians you are attempting to portray. The security forces must use whatever force is necessary under the circumstances in order to be the security force.
Aluf Benn is exaggerating the significance of yesterday's events. He is also exaggerating when he talks of a 'nightmare' scenario of 'refugees' walking to Israel's borders. First of all the only real 'refugees' are by this time in senior citizens' homes or perhaps a better world. Some of their descendants who the U.N. classifies as 'refugees' in a way it classifies no other descendants of refugees decide to make the walk they can be stopped in a way which of course will provide terrible public relations to Israel. But terrible public relations events' are occurring now every day in the Arab world and they do not necessarily change any reality. Israel has to protect its people, its borders, its sovereignty . It is infinitely more decent to its Arab minority than any Arab regime is to any of its minorities. Anyone who really understands the situation truly will understand Israel is defending itself against a global effort to delegitimize it and destroy it. '
How old are those "refugees" whose parents left Israel to make the advance of Arab armies easier?Khaled Al-Azm, Syria`s Prime Minister after the 1948 war: "Since 1948 it is we who demanded the return of the refugees... while it is we who made them leave.... We brought disaster upon ... Arab refugees, by inviting them and bringing pressure to bear upon them to leave.... We have rendered them dispossessed.... We have accustomed them to begging.... We have participated in lowering their moral and social level.... Then we exploited.".....they should blame their parents and Arab leaders instead of Israel.
I love how everyone thinks all this BS will not affect them in the long run. I don't understand why Jews and Muslims can't get over all this Crap before the world gets tired and wipes them both out.
Muslims were living in peace until 1947.
In Afganistan, the US has made the mistake of trying to tactically combat these types of moves. Israel must hold the governments of these states responsible if they are not willing to control moves against Israel's borders. Make no mistake, the sum total of these types of charades are a strategic move. Strategic strikes against Syria are in order. Issue the warning, then strike if they rare not willing to control or are not willing to stop initiating these silly protests. Total war is close, only real strength can avert it. Israel risks shooting these people if they cannot convince the actal govt people responsible for the charade to make them stop. Israel must use it's surfaces against the enemy gap. The gap is their government, not individuals approaching the fence.
please i begging all the islam country to protect and help palestine for our brother and sisiter future....!!!
Arabs may get ride of their Leader who are the puppets of West in a couple of years and again real strauggle will commence against Israelis. Let me share u the fate of Israelis in past and in future as said by heaven book Al-Quraan. Jews will entertain adhoc peacefull life in world for a limited period (50-100) years when they are supported by a world power of the time or they submit to Allah Almighty for true path thats(Islam) or els their fate again exercised to and no one could survive them from wrath of God(Allah) Almighty. This theme ot Quranic vers is 100% true if u see the history of Jews.
Middle East you are unbelievable!! Start to learn to accept other cultures and religions!!!
How old are those "refugees" whose parents left Israel to make the advance of Arab armies easier?Khaled Al-Azm, Syria`s Prime Minister after the 1948 war: "Since 1948 it is we who demanded the return of the refugees... while it is we who made them leave.... We brought disaster upon ... Arab refugees, by inviting them and bringing pressure to bear upon them to leave.... We have rendered them dispossessed.... We have accustomed them to begging.... We have participated in lowering their moral and social level.... Then we exploited.".....they should blame their parents and Arab leaders instead of Israel.
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That attitude is exactly why Israel will wind up agreeing to the 1947 borders. When the Pal's realize - all they have to do is march en masse BACK INTO Israel? The game is over.
Yeah, let Assad and Ghadafi be Lights Upon the Jewish Nation.
once it becomes worthy of His blessing. Bibi and company have set it back a little, so it may be awhile...
good
LMAO!
The american President is facing an increasingly hostile world due to tough economic times,we must all acknowledge this.When we speak of the President we must speak of him as we will about any other president The difference is America and the world in a very short tine have changed and changed immensely. What all Americans should do is to support the presidentThis will make America srtronger.We should not seek to dive the country on political and party lines
America was great when it honoured these words.
Next time the army should let the invaders in. The Israeli public will deal with them.
Perhaps the israeli public will take the opportunity to show the 'invaders' how good they took care of their houses.......
Whether it is Assad in charge, or who over replaces him, the Syrian Street demands their rightful ownership of the Golan be restored. It is a just cause with deep international support. Forget Assad, he isn't the problem. The problem is that Israel must return the land to it's rightful owners.
Yes, yes.. keep saying that while he's butchering his people and millions of surviving Syrians continue to beg for half a dollar a week. Interesting political gain.
yes Ben, it is a matter of time when all eyes will be pointed toward Palestine & Israel. this revolution will not escape this land. it will not be immediate as the uprisings and the revolutions in the Arab world will take take sometime and ups and downs for the time being. however, Israel's might as you dearly depend on will not stand in the next intifada and revolution. the Palestinian has the right to walk from all over the surrounding countries back to their lands. as i have always believed, patience is a virtue and time is against the Israelis. if you do want peace you should act now and genuinely. what you have and you refer to as "democracy" is "voting". so, vote for the right person and vote for wanting peace with the Arabs and the Palestinians.
When you just demanded the destruction of Israel and just 3 days ago when Hamas declared, like they do every week, that even with a palestinian state they would continue to kill Israelis, you won't be able to fool Israelis.
Israelis want peace. As you well know if you live among them in Jerusalem. It is almost to a fault, a point of weakness. They love to create, to build, to see their kids grow, they cherish life. So all you have to do to win them over is to show them some love. Say we Arabs understand that you Jews are for example equal human beings to us. We Arabs respect your religion. We Arabs with 22 countries in which to express various types and flavors of Arab cultue and society recognize at long last understand your need for a Jewish state and national refuge in which to build your cultural and national future. Show some love and the Israeli people, like after Sadat did, will take huge risks for peace. Show some love, if you can.
Nakba Day is a response to Israel's actions, NOT IRAN's and NOT Syria's.
I'm sorry, but what exactly did Israel do? I mean, except from winning when all of the arab nations around it attacked 60 years ago? and then treating the arabs in it better then any other arab nation? Israel is far from being perfect, but it is used by muslims around the world as the source of any of their problems just so they can have someone to blame, without any real reason. Do some research, check your facts and not just listen to any idiot that shouts loud enough.
israel acts as an overlord to the pals and give them reason after reason to resent the occupation. it seems there is a never ending list of offenses by the idf the settlers and the knesset that deprive the pals of a life. they have no freedom no state nothing.
Accept Israel, failing to accept the UN partition plan an soon and so on. The failure to accept Israel resulted in all the arab hardship.
if israel was ever genuinely interested in peace rather than illegal territorial expansion, it would have embraced the Saudi peace plan which offered peace with its neighbours and a just two state solution. However, successive Israeli governments have decided that ILLEGAL settlement and continued ethnic cleansing is more important than peace - now you will have to live with the consequences and perhaps one day even the US will say enough is enough,lets have a viable two state solution guided by international law OR one state with EQUAL rights for all, restitution for all Palestinians dispossed of their land, a realisic right of return - goodbye to a Jewish State - YOU SIMPLY CAN'T HAVE IT ALL without any conseuences!!!!
Aluf Benn would be happy if Israel just let in millions of Arabs so Israel would be destroyed and living under Sharia law. Haaretz has become so radical in the last few years, they should change its name to Gazareetz.
And it's been laying there for decades...long before the current Iranian regime was even conceived of...
Isn't it always the Arab way?? When they attacked Israel they turned it into a Holocaust Day for themselves because they could not and would not live in peace with the Jews. When they attacked in 1967 and Israel sent them packing and wiped out their forces in hours they turned it into a victory. When they attacked Israel on the Holiest Day for Jews, and Israel turned the tables, they made it their victory. Now when the Arab world is in revolt and the tyrants are being deposed they are making it about Israel. If there was never a clearer message it is not that Israel MUST make peace, but that a peace would be difficult to make. Why? Because the Arab street does not share the limited view of its leaders and wants to take on Israel and destroy it.