Working together against terror

When the defense minister was asked recently what the fate of the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians would be if Israel responded with force to a terror attack within the country, he responded that "the test is one of intentions." If it turns out that Mahmoud Abbas, as opposed to Yasser Arafat, is not intent on terror but is working to put a stop to it, if the Palestinian Authority leadership does not initiate, encourage or economically support terror, and if it does what is at this stage its limited best to stop attacks, it would be unwise to renew military activities after an attack. Such a decision would cancel out the achievements already visible on the ground that were brought about by bilateral cooperation.

The defense minister's stand on this issue, expressed in a closed forum about two weeks ago, will be put to the test following the murderous attack Friday night at the Stage club on the Tel Aviv promenade. The price - four dead and 48 wounded, some seriously - means that the public once more has been cast into a whirlwind of anger and despair. The hope is that Israel will exercise the requisite restraint, while at the same time increase security cooperation with Abbas, which will improve the ability of his security forces to stop terror.

Just two days ago, Israel expressed its satisfaction with Abbas' actions in halting weapons smuggling from Egypt to the Gaza Strip by closing off 12 tunnels. Nevertheless, it expressed concern that not enough was being done to stop terror, considering that the motivation to carry out attacks has not diminished.

In moments of sorrow, it is difficult to see the glass as half full. However, a sober look at the improving security situation over the past few months reveals that military restraint and cooperation with Abbas' government has already borne fruit. A greater effort may be needed, perhaps with international assistance, to stop the money trail to the Hezbollah that allows terror to continue.

In the past, heightened terror has foiled several political plans. But even in the worst times, the Israeli public for the most part did not cease its support for withdrawal from the territories. Sixty-seven percent of the public expressed support for disengagement from Gaza, according to a survey last week by the Cartographic Institute. This support does not hinge on the anger and pain over loss of life, but rather stems from a dispassionate view of reality and of the country's need for a defensible border.

The disengagement plan must be carried out as planned; shortening its implementation from 12 weeks to seven is justified and right. The implemention itself should be shortened even more, since the return to normal life will frustrate the schemes of extremists on both sides to disrupt the calm.

The chance that an elected government will hold back for long in the face of terror is slight. Therefore, the Sharon government must increase its security cooperation with Abbas. Reinforcing him will help both sides now that the Israeli side is more convinced of his good intentions, which, unfortunately, have not been backed up by sufficiently impressive security capabilities.