As Long As Iran and Iraq Are Players Arafat Won't Be Defeated
Reader comment on item: Hope for the Middle East

Submitted by Joe Levi (United States), May 25, 2002 at 06:41

Somehow, I don't envision the Palestinians breaking before the end of the year, as predicted by Daniel Pipes.

While it's true that the suicide bombings and other acts of violence by the militant groups have galvanized Israeli society, and for the time being have relegated Israel's Peace Now movement to the back burner, Israel still, in my opinion, is reacting and not taking the initative.

Oh yes, it makes frequent, if not daily incursions into Area A, has become more resolute, and its reserve troops are less apt to be openly critical of the settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is now taking seriously the idea of a permanent fence between the two peoples, but the PLO is still viable, the radical groups are still functioning, and there is an effort to regroup.

Notwithstanding Operation Defensive Shield, there are still no limit to the number of Arab suicide bombers ready to kill themselves and as many Israelis as possible.

Additionally, Saddam Hussein will sooner than later test an atomic bomb, and the Iranians will use the Russian nuclear facility to make enough fuel to manufacture nuclear weapons for loading onto its Shihab missile.

The Palestinians know that Syria is improving its weapons systems, Hezbollah has over 9,000 more rockets aimed at northern Israel, Egypt has a huge army, and Libya is making WMD.

This really just isn't a fight between the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but between the much larger Arab/Muslim nation and Israel.

As such, I believe the Palestinians will become more aggressive and bold, even though they might sustain heavy casualties, banking on their friends eventually combining forces against Israel and exacting compromises accordingly.

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