Mr. Benn makes some interesting arguments here. I'm not saying
I agree with all of it, but it seems like clear, non-bullshitty
analysis of where we have got to now, hence worth a read.With its meandering route, the
separation fence reflects Israel's
situation today, after four years of
warfare with the Palestinians. It
constitutes a tactical victory and a
strategic debacle.
Defying expectations held by many,
Ariel Sharon has proven that forceful
methods can be used to fight terror, and
that democracy, internal unity and
American support can be preserved at
the same time. True, terror has not been
extinguished completely; but the war
has been moved to enemy Palestinian
territory, and Israeli citizens enjoy a
relatively placid period. The flow of
suicide strikers has, for the most part,
been plugged, thanks to the fence and
preemptive, anti-terror measures.
Israel has succeeded in restraining
terror, but it has failed to translate its
tactical success into a strategic victory.
The Palestinians have not caved in,
despite the devastating blows they have
endured. Facing Israel's military
superiority, the Palestinians have turned
for support to the international arena,
where sympathy tends to be on their
side. The goal of their struggle has been
clear, and easy to explain to the world:
an end to the occupation, and the
removal of Israelis from the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip. Israel has found it
difficult to formulate the goal of its fight
against this Palestinian campaign.
Sharon invested tremendous effort in his
personal fight against Arafat. The
Palestinian leader is confined in his
Ramallah compound, and the
international community has somehow
become accustomed to this situation.
But what good does this really do? Even
without his flights to posh European
residences and his visits to the White
House, Arafat remains the Palestinian
leader; his message has not changed,
and nobody around him will be content
with anything less than Israeli
withdrawal from all the territories and
some sort of right of refugee return.
Haaretz(more)