Fighting Terrorism (14 page)
Read Fighting Terrorism Online
Authors: Benjamin Netanyahu
Undoubtedly the leaders of the United States in particular could be subjected to a barrage of criticism that they are curtailing civil freedoms and that they are overreacting. They should reject this criticism, responding, as has the Supreme Court of the United States, that “it is âobvious and unarguable' that no governmental interest is more compelling than the security of the Nation”
3
âand this includes unlimited civil liberties. Western democracy is strong enough to be able to monitor any added powers given its security services, especially if the technique of requiring periodic renewal of these powers is adopted. Moreover, the security of the democracies and their well-being cannot be governed by the ebb and flow of local political skirmishes. Leaders must have the courage to do what is required even in the face of the most stinging criticism. Courageous action is in itself the best answer to the inevitable slings that the small-minded heap upon the statesman facing great odds. And seldom has there been a menace that so called for the courage and resolve of the true statesman as the resurgent terror which threatens to rob us of the freedoms and values we so cherish.
3
âand this includes unlimited civil liberties. Western democracy is strong enough to be able to monitor any added powers given its security services, especially if the technique of requiring periodic renewal of these powers is adopted. Moreover, the security of the democracies and their well-being cannot be governed by the ebb and flow of local political skirmishes. Leaders must have the courage to do what is required even in the face of the most stinging criticism. Courageous action is in itself the best answer to the inevitable slings that the small-minded heap upon the statesman facing great odds. And seldom has there been a menace that so called for the courage and resolve of the true statesman as the resurgent terror which threatens to rob us of the freedoms and values we so cherish.
My first vote of thanks must go to Dr. Yoram Hazony of the Shalem Center-National Policy Institute in Jerusalem, who, not for the first time, shouldered the burden of being my editor, my research director, and my all-around sounding board. It was with him that I discussed and tested all the ideas in this book, drawing especially on his expertise in political philosophy to sharpen and hone the legal and moral aspects of a democracy's response to the dilemma of fighting terrorism while preserving civil liberties.
Colonel (res.) Yigal Carmon, a former adviser on terrorism to two Israeli prime ministers, deserves my heart-felt thanks for unstintingly making available to me his unique obervations on the operational methods of fighting terrorism. In this he drew not only from his own rich professional experience in Israel but also from his insights gleaned from a vast network of contacts with anti-terror
authorities in many lands, examples of which I have used liberally throughout these pages.
authorities in many lands, examples of which I have used liberally throughout these pages.
I am grateful to Boaz Ganor, a specialist on terrorism at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, for having read the entire manuscript, offering important comments which served to clarify and amplify many passages.
I am much indebted to my publisher, Roger Straus, who with his boundless elan and unmatched nerve prodded me to write this book while in the throes of Israel's less than genteel politics. Roger's encouragement on the need to clearly state the fundamentals of fighting terrorism in the 1990s were as valuable to me as they were during our earlier collaboration on this subject in the 1980s. The form of the problem has changed, the need to address it has not.
My colleague and friend Ron Dermer has lately served as a much-valued intellectual gadfly. In the days following the terror bombings in America, his keen and critical intelligence helped focus my thoughts on the concepts necessary to wage battle against a resurgent terror at the beginning of a new century.
I owe my deepest appreciation to my wife, Sara. Her clear mind and compassionate heart helped see me through many difficult days. By reminding me always that behind the unfathomable numbers of terrorism's victims lie the ruins of broken lives and shattered hopes, she renewed a decades-old conviction that I must do all in my power to help win the war against this unmitigated evil. That is what each of us is now asked to do.
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response
Â
BY BENJAMIN NETANYAHU
Â
A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
1
Christian Lochte, “Fighting Terrorism in the Federal Republic of Germany” in
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, p. 173.
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, p. 173.
2
Joseph W. Bishop, “Legal Measures to Control Terrorism in Democracies,” in Benjamin Netanyahu, ed.,
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response
(New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 1981), p. 301.
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response
(New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 1981), p. 301.
3
Yigal Carmon, former Prime Minister's adviser on terrorism.
4
Bishop, pp. 302â4.
5
Quoted in Walter Berns, “Constitutional Power and the Defense of Free Government,” in
Terrorism: How the West Can Win.
Terrorism: How the West Can Win.
6
Ibid.
7
Benedict de Spinoza,
A Theological-Political Treatise
, R.H.M. Elwes, trans. (New York: Dover, 1951), pp. 258, 260.
A Theological-Political Treatise
, R.H.M. Elwes, trans. (New York: Dover, 1951), pp. 258, 260.
CHAPTER III
1
Richard Pipes, “The Roots of the Involvement,” in
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
pp. 58â61.
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
pp. 58â61.
2
Michael Ledeen, “Soviet Sponsorship: The Will to Disbelieve,” in
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, pp. 88â92.
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, pp. 88â92.
3
Brian Crozier, “Soviet Support for International Terrorism,” in
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
pp. 66â68.
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
pp. 66â68.
4
Ray Cline, “The Strategic Framework,” in
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
p. 94.
International Terrorism: Challenge and Response,
p. 94.
5
Ledeen, p. 91.
6
Ibid., p. 90. See also Benjamin Netanyahu,
A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World
(New York: Bantam, 1993), pp. 194â95. Documentation for the PLO's relationship with the Soviet Union, as well as with other terrorist groups serving as proxy warriors in a host of countries, can be found in Uri Ra'anan,
et al., Hydra of Carnage: International Links of Terrorism
(Lexington, MA: Heath, 1986), pp. 477â568, 609â20.
A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World
(New York: Bantam, 1993), pp. 194â95. Documentation for the PLO's relationship with the Soviet Union, as well as with other terrorist groups serving as proxy warriors in a host of countries, can be found in Uri Ra'anan,
et al., Hydra of Carnage: International Links of Terrorism
(Lexington, MA: Heath, 1986), pp. 477â568, 609â20.
7
Crozier, p. 70.
8
The Wall Street Journal,
July 26, 1979.
July 26, 1979.
9
Benjamin Netanyahu, “Defining Terrorism,” in
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, pp. 16â17, 23.
Terrorism: How the West Can Win
, pp. 16â17, 23.
10
George P. Shultz,
Turmoil and Triumph: My Years as Secretary of State
(New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993), p. 790.
Turmoil and Triumph: My Years as Secretary of State
(New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993), p. 790.
CHAPTER IV
1
Muhammad Nuwayhi,
Towards a Revolution in Religious Thought
(1907), excerpted in John Donohue and John Esposito, eds.,
Islam in Transition: Muslim Perspectives
(New York: Oxford, 1982), pp. 167â68.
Towards a Revolution in Religious Thought
(1907), excerpted in John Donohue and John Esposito, eds.,
Islam in Transition: Muslim Perspectives
(New York: Oxford, 1982), pp. 167â68.
2
Netanyahu,
A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World,
p. 122.
A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World,
p. 122.
3
Arafat quoted in Saudi News Agency, January 2, 1989.
4
This discussion of the Muslim Arab view of history adapted from Netanyahu,
A Place Among the Nations
, pp. 107â23.
A Place Among the Nations
, pp. 107â23.
5
Yediot Aharonot,
June 27, 1995.
June 27, 1995.
6
Source for militant Islamic activity in Europe, except where otherwise indicated: Yigal Carmon, formerly Adviser to the Prime Minister on Terror.
7
Jihad in America
, pp. 13, 21, 7.
, pp. 13, 21, 7.
CHAPTER V
1
The Phased Plan was adopted by the Palestine National Council (PNC), the parent body of the PLO, on June 8, 1974. It declares that “the PLO is fighting by every means ⦠to free the Palestinian land and establish a national, independent, and fighting government over every part of the soil of Palestine to be freed” [Section 2]. It continues: “After its establishment, the national Palestinian government will fight for the unity of the countries of confrontation, to complete the liberation of all the Palestinian land ⦔ [Section 8]. The Phased Plan in its entirety was broadcast by Saut Falastin Radio, Egypt, on the day of its adoption and may be found reprinted in Netanyahu,
A Place Among the Nations,
pp. 433â34.
A Place Among the Nations,
pp. 433â34.
2
Yitzhak Zaccai,
Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza District, 1967â1987: Twenty Years of Civil Administration
(Jerusalem: Carta, 1987), p. 14.
Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza District, 1967â1987: Twenty Years of Civil Administration
(Jerusalem: Carta, 1987), p. 14.
3
Dan Polisar, Peace Watch monitoring group.
4
Interview with Yasir Arafat, Radio Monte Carlo, September 1, 1993. Cited in
Jerusalem Post,
December 12, 1993.
Jerusalem Post,
December 12, 1993.
5
Jerusalem Post
, March 22, 1994.
, March 22, 1994.
6
Amid Haj Ismail Jabar,
Ha'aretz,
May 15, 1994.
Ha'aretz,
May 15, 1994.
7
Ha'aretz,
August 10, 1994.
August 10, 1994.
8
Israel Television News, November 10, 1994.
9
Yediot Aharonot,
November 17, 1994.
November 17, 1994.
10
Ma'ariv,
November 16, 1994.
November 16, 1994.
11
Yediot Aharonot,
November 17, 1994.
November 17, 1994.
12
Dan Polisar, Peace Watch monitoring group.
13
Ma'ariv,
July 22, 1995.
July 22, 1995.
14
Hatzofeh,
July 13, 1995.
July 13, 1995.
15
The New York Times,
January 29, 1939.
January 29, 1939.
16
Arafat was quickly caught abusing this exemption. As Prime Minister Rabin put in a report to the Israeli cabinet, “Arafat smuggled into Gaza in his motorcade” several notorious terrorist killers, including Mamdouh Nufal, who organized the 1974 massacre at Maalot of twenty-six schoolchildren; Jihad al Giusi, who took part in planning the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli athletes; and Mustafa Liftawi, who planned the 1974 massacre on Israel's coastal road, which claimed thirty-five Israeli lives. In this case, Israel's discovery of this flagrant violation of the Oslo accords forced Arafat to turn back these terrorists to Egypt.
17
Ma'ariv
and
Hatzofeh,
May 14, 1995.
and
Hatzofeh,
May 14, 1995.
18
Netanyahu,
A Place Among the Nations,
p. 349.
A Place Among the Nations,
p. 349.
19
Davar,
July 6, 1995.
July 6, 1995.
20
Ma'ariv,
July 6, 1995.
July 6, 1995.
21
Rafiq Natshe, member of the Fatah Central Committee, quoted in
Al-Qabas,
December 26, 1989.
Al-Qabas,
December 26, 1989.
22
Ha'aretz,
August 3, 1995.
August 3, 1995.
23
Arafat and Abu Medien quotes cited in Peace Watch bulletin, August 10, 1995.
a
Nosair was actually acquitted by the jury on the murder count, a verdict which the judge, Alvin Schleshinger, called “totally against the weight of the evidence; it was irrational ⦠It just made no sense, common or otherwise, to have reached that verdict.”
Jihad in America
(PBS, final script, November 21, 1994; Executive Producer, Steve Emerson, p. 16). Nosair was found guilty of related charges and sent to prison.
Jihad in America
(PBS, final script, November 21, 1994; Executive Producer, Steve Emerson, p. 16). Nosair was found guilty of related charges and sent to prison.
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