If it weren't for the glowing neon Hebrew signs, one could easily confuse Tel Aviv with Manhattan. Both cities have towering skyscrapers, car-packed boulevards and chronic insomnia. Recently, these two cities have shared more than just urban landscape. This New Year's Eve, officials beefed up security in New York, Las Vegas and a handful of other American cities. These unparalleled precautions included radiation detectors, welded manholes and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Thankfully, terror didn't strike America -- but its spector did cause many people to remain at home during the holiday. Now imagine this sort of security on a daily basis. Welcome to Israel. At the entrances of malls, restaurants and banks, security guards check bags, pat down patrons and check for weapons. No one is spared this procedure. Israeli ambulances (not just their Palestinian counterparts) must be inspected before delivering patients to the emergency room. Armed soldiers are as common as the ubiquitous falafel stand.
Israel has the world's most comprehensive security system. Despite all these efforts, some suicide bombers still infiltrate buses and cafes (only 1 percent of all suicide bombers are sucessful), killing those in close proximity and maiming many others with nails and screws packed with the bomb.
Just about every Israeli knows someone whose family member or friend was killed or permanently disabled during the past three years of attacks. Israelis continue to lead relatively normal daily lives. They still dine at restaurants, stroll in open air markets and ride buses. Astoundingly, Israel has remained an open and liberal society. Whereas other regimes faced with a fraction of the threat have folded, Israel stands committed to the basic values of democracy. Perhaps our government should take notes on the Israelis' successful balancing of individual freedom and national security.
Just as the American government has declared a "war on terror," Israel has attempted to snuff out multiple terror groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and a potpourri of other Islamic radical groups residing in the West Bank and Gaza. Some critics of Israel believe that the peace process should continue despite the continued operations of these groups. This mentality stems from the misunderstanding that these terror groups are engaging in a legitimate form of resistance. In fact, only in the past few months have the Europeans placed the political wing of Hamas on the terrorist list. None of these organizations, including Arafat's Fatah militant group, plan on laying down arms after the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. They only plan on using the state as a stepping stone for the destruction of Israel.
Let's look at the Oslo Accords. After the Israelis pulled out of occupied territories during the '90s, many Palestinians rearmed and strengthened their terrorist infrastructure. Any hint of peace on the part of Israel is perceived as weakness by the terrorists; this encouraging the terrorists to continue. Clearly, the peace process should only proceed once these groups can no longer attack Israelis. Hoping these groups will cease attacks once Israel withdraws from Palestinian territory (as many supporters of the Geneva Accords believe) is naive, to say the least.
It may be difficult for those who have not witnessed the carnage of a terror attack or been subjected to the non-stop security checks to understand why Israel reacts so swiftly against those who abetted suicide bombers. In reality, it would be criminal if the government didn't take action against those who support attacks against Israel. Unlike America, Israel doesn't have the luxury of space. Al Qaida is, we hope, thousands of miles away from our shores. Hamas and other groups operate only a few miles from major population centers.
In Jerusalem, suicide bombers need only to walk a few city blocks to explode a bus full of passengers. Three years of daily terror attacks has forced the Israeli government to pursue more draconian forms of retaliation to discourage future attacks and punish those responsible. From checkpoints and curfews to house demolitions and targeted assassinations, the government has intensified its response to those who helped perpetrate terrorism. Unfortunately, more innocent bystanders are being killed. It is always a tragedy when this occurs. Nonetheless, the majority of those killed by army incursions and targeted assassinations are known terrorists leaders, bomb crafters and suicide bombers en route to detonate a bus or cafe.
The Israeli government has the extremely difficult task of juggling the welfare of its people and maintaining a democratic society during war. Its treatment of the Palestinians is criticized by many, to say the least. Indeed, there is suffering on both sides of the Green Line. Though Israel does attempt to keep its borders open and delays at checkpoints to a minimum, it is impossible for the Israeli government to maintain adequate security for its citizens without inconveniencing the Palestinians. However, the Israeli government must try its best to mitigate the suffering of Palestinians. Clearly, Arafat has no interest in the future of his people. In fact, their suffering serves him more than their welfare. Each death garners empathy from the world and global antipathy towards Israel. Terrorist groups, the real root of Palestinian suffering, understand that every roadblock, curfew and casualty pushes more Palestinians into their tentacles. Alas, the Palestinian people are treated as pawns -- exploited by their leadership and manipulated by "militant" groups.
As Americans, we have only had a taste of the horrors of terrorism. It is almost unfathomable to understand how much emotional suffering Israelis undergo daily; the toll is incalculable. Living in Israel, one begins to understand why the Israeli government functions the way it does. No other country has to shoulder as many societal and security issues as does Israel. From the never-ending security checks to the constant fear of being blown up on a bus, life in this small state is exhausting.
Every new house constructed in Israel is required to be equipped with a bomb shelter. Every Israeli teenager is required to serve in the army. Despite all odds, the Israelis have miraculously carved out a beautiful country. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv still pulse with life. The view from Masada remains breathtaking. And if it weren't for Uzi-toting soldiers, you might think you were in the land of milk and honey.
