Opinion
Can it happen here too?
Alex Fishman
Published: 28.11.08, 12:33
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27 Talkbacks for this article
1. "The Unrelenting War"
Gideon Reader   (11.28.08)
Fishman's question clearly indicates the missing element of the historical education regarding the "Unrelenting War". ((The Arab-Islamic War Against the Jews & Israel)) It HAS happened before in Israel. And Israel has responded, and responded well. Not perfect prehaps; but well. Several times. And elsewhere across the world. terrorist surrogates acting on behalf of the sick ideology targets the precieved weak members of the herd in the same fashion each time. Not exactly prehaps. But repetitive exactitude is not a hallmark of successful terrorist operations. The "Mumbai Aktion" is the pluperfect reason for *every Jew* male or female to be personally armed, ALL the time, and with sufficient technical ability to enjoin his or her attackers immeadiately in the absence of security force representatives. The only thing I can comfortably predict is that it will happen again and again and again. Israel has skilled responses to the threats, however many cities across the world do not. Expect little from most entities charges with response to acts of Terror and you will not be so shocked or disappointed by the disasterous results of "Egyptian Commandos" syndrome((All the Terrorists AND their intended victims are killed)) Call it the Beslan Response Effect. The War is Unrelenting, and as a targeted civilian combatant I bring a fatalistic sense of duty; a mandate for a personal armed response should it become necessary. Age and gender is no excuse for non participation. Each targeted Jew has a personal and collective responsibility to be armed and have the skills to utilize his weapons should it prove necessary. There are NO conscientious objectors in the "Unrelenting War." Just surviving combatants and victims.
2. One thing is for certain: the attacks will increase until
Rivkah   (11.28.08)
the Jewish Messiah comes down from the sky and touches down on the Mount of Olives and an earthquake makes Jerusalem a seaport. Only the Lord can bring peace to this troubled world run by the devil. Israel is better prepared to respond to disasters and tragedies than most nations.
3. No contingency plans because our government doesnt care!
Jay ,   Israel   (11.28.08)
4. total caos...
(11.28.08)
I can't promise I will hold back against those who dance in their villages..
5. Can't compare apples with pears.
Ted ,   Tel Aviv   (11.28.08)
well to begin with the chances that terrorists will be able to even enter are very slim. Israeli navy is much more prepared for such situations and in the past has successfully stopped infiltrations from the sea. The airforce and civilian flight security is much more enhanced and the security protocols concerning aircraft coming into israel are pretty secure. So no the answer is it wouldn't be the same and yes security services would be able to cope with such a scenario.
6. Mr. Fishman at best this irresponsible journalism...
(11.28.08)
at worst you forgot to take your medications! Pahleeze (Please) calm down and stop giving the terrorists any more ideas!
7. Exactly what I was thinking ....
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (11.28.08)
As soon as I read about the horrific events in Mumbai, I said to myself, ''This could happen here.'' Actually, I imagine much worse. Eventually Iran will attack us. No sane person thinks otherwise. Who doubts that Hezbollah will join in? Thousands of missiles. Maybe Syria as well - it's not like they didn't do it before. And Hamas? You know they'll join in, no one can doubt they coordinate with both Iran, Syria, & Hezbollah. Don't doubt also that our ''partners in peace'' from Fatah would join in. And our own home-grown fifth column? You'd have to be a fool not to expect it. And what are we doing about it? We're fighting ''settlers'' - other Jews, so some crooks can win an election. Very nice ......
8. It's already happening here- Gaza & S. Lebanon
Bennie ,   Jerusalem   (11.28.08)
Kadima idiots and the rest of the radical left-wing anarchists who want to give away Israel haven't figured out that Mumbai is already happening here because of Gaza and S. Lebanon. It is just a slower process. Give away the Golan, West Bank and E. Jerusalem and the process of destroying Israel will reach full speed quickly.
9. impossible to predict what would be the response
zionist forever   (11.28.08)
Special forces train for a whole variaty of situations but considering how secretive Israels special forces are then who knows what they are or are not prepared for. One thing that Israel does have in its favour is the fact there are always so many off duty soilders with their weapons around the country so there can at least be some military personel on the scene quite quickly until the specialists can arrive. Its somehing that nobody can fully plan for and all that can be done is pray that it doesn't happen and if something does then just see how the situation plays out at the time it is to difficult to predict. What is safe to say is that after its all over there are going to be some large scale military operations, if its palestinians, or an enemy state it will probably result in a full scale gloves off war. If its terrorists from abroad then we will start to see a situation like after the Munich Olympic masscre and Israeli agents dispatched around the world to start killing anybody involved in any form.
10. # 7 Terry You Are 100% Correct
Lawrence Tendler ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
Exactly what I have been saying.It is like watching a disaster happening in slow motion and we are powerless to prevent it.We are like 2 Jabotinskys before the Shoah and we are being ridiculed.The Arabs are waiting patiently ,they are NOT stupid and at the appropriate time will gang up on Israel from all directions simultaneously.It is Obvious and does not take a genius to imagine the results...which don't bear thinking about.Meanwhile Barak,our Defense Minister has not got a care in the World,only if he will be next Prime Minister or not.We are about to be royally screwed.
11. #7 It Will Be The End
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
Iran,Syria,Hizbullah ,Hamas and Egypt on the outside,the 5th column on the inside,but let's fight the real Enemy...15 year old Settler girls and Federman Family in Hebron.Shoah no.2 coming to a cinema near you real soon.
12. #5 Read Talkback #7 And Weep.
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
13. #4 Chaos Not Caos.
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
14. Why not arm Jews for self defense?
jason white ,   afula,israel   (11.28.08)
Why does the government through the min of the interior prevent Jews from buying weapons for self defense? All Jews who have served in the I.D.F should be allowed to purchase a handgun and receive an assault rifle from the army. Be prepared for the worse situation.
15. Price of everything and value of nothing
Gideon Reader   (11.28.08)
Prisoner#13 Explosives detonated, and automatic fire directed against the unarmed and more or less helpless. People, some mere tourists or pilgrims, or religous servants killed and maimed, a nation in turmoil and children wounded, killed or made orphans, and you are concerned with using your "Red Pencil" to correct spelling? Putz!
16. #14 Jason: too much common sense
Bennie ,   Jerusalem   (11.28.08)
The radical left-wing anarchists that control Israel's government do not want civilians armed to protect themselves against our own government when the left-wingers want to give away more of Israel, kick Jews out of their homes and destroy Jewish communities as they did in Gaza. The last thing left-wingers want is Jews defending themselves when the radical left gives away the Golan, E. Jerusalem and the W. Bank.
17. reckless article
liz ,   Israel   (11.28.08)
If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem!
18. #15 From A Putz To A Schmuck
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
Life carries on you Moron.Don't start with the insults because I can bury you in them.Take your anger out on some Muslim you racist ,ignorant person.Who appointed you as the judge of others morals?
19. # 1 You Remind Of These Wackjob
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
Survivalists who go in to the Forest with their big,shiny Guns.Every Jew to carry a gun? you are about 60 years too late Mate.The best and ONLY answer to Terror is to carry on Life as normal ,just like jews have done for millenia.In addition ,I recommend you are armed if you ever call me a Putz to my face,but I doubt you possess the Intestinal fortitude.
20. # 15 Price Of Everthing Value of
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
The price of insulting me is a swift kick in the Nuts and the value of you and your opinion is precisely...NOTHING.
21. #14 Why Does The Government Not
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.28.08)
Arm jews for self-defense? because they want to be in control and not hotheads like you.
22. Wake-up it already has...multiple times!
Larry G. ,   Hamilton, Canada   (11.29.08)
Boy Mr. Fishman, you've got such a short memory! Israel was endured wave after wave of organized terrorism, the so-called first Intifada (1987-93) and the second Intifada in 2000 was pre-planned, Sharon visiting the Temple Mount was just used as a pretext by the Arabs! Yes, I say Arabs because everybody legitimizes these Arabs by calling them Palestinians! As a result of wave after wave of car bombings, bus bombings, restaurant bombings--especially murdering Jews sitting down to a passover seder, do you remember now? Because of terrorism and only because of terrorism, Israel started erecting concrete barriers. This strategic position then turned into creating what anti-Semitic fellow travelers call the apartheid wall, which is ironic because it was only created to ward off terrorism. And yet the Jews are the ones branded by these useful idiots as nazis! It has always happened, the Arabs always use a lie as a pretext for organized riots, they did it and removed the Jews from Hebron in 1929 and they used the exact same strategy in 2008 in the town of Acre! Now it's your turn! The next time the Arabs have an organized riot ready to go, if it happens then burn down: Orient House, al-Aqsa Mosque, The Dome of the Rock, the Islamic waqf offices and chase the Arabs off the land! It's time to give the enemy their just desserts!
23. #15 Very Sad What Happened
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (11.29.08)
But as long as I am alright that's all that matters to me,go cry me a River with your fake crocodile tears.I.'M ALRIGHT JACK....screw the rest.
24. Indeed, it can and will happen again and again!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (11.29.08)
The real problem is that the "World" doesn't ever learn from history and will not face up to the fact that international terrorism is being assisted by the media who refer to them as "militants". Militant is not a synonym for terrorism. People were horrified by Nazism but we see it on the raise today in Europe, the USA and even here in Israel. The world was shattered by the 9/11 attacks in the USA but we have learned nothing from that incident nor from the horrific terror attacks in Madrid, Bali, London, Islamabad and many other places. The question is will we learn anything from the events of the last few days? The answer is probably "no" as political and commercial issues influence the decision making processes of governments like those in the UK, the EU and the USA. While not all terrorists are Islamic Fundamentalists, most terror attacks are carried out by Islamists and in the name of Islam. The Arab world objects to the use of the words "terrorists" and has used their financial power to compel news organizations like CNN, the BBC, SkyNews and FOX News Channel to substitute the word "militants" for the "T" word. The word "militant" implies a certain justification of the heinous acts of these barbaric murderers and as long at the Arab world does not recognize that they are in fact justifying these acts and are doing damage to their own religion, the scenes we have seen in Mumbai over the last few days will be repeated over and over. Further proof is that of the reaction of the British Government to the statement by India that some of the terrorists in Mumbai are British. The Foreign Secretary immediately rejected this and Prime Minister Brown said “we must jump to conclusions”. They seem to have forgotten that the terror attack at “Mikes Place” in Tel Aviv was carried out by British citizens, the “Shoe Bomber”, Richard Reid, is British and the merry men who were planning to blow up Transatlantic airliners are British! Mr. Fishman is right but at least here in Israel we are more alert to terrorist threats and, while there is still too much complacency by the general public, the security services do an outstanding job although protective system is perfect. We have witnessed too many tragedies here in Israel but we don't know how many have been prevented by the vigilance of our forces. The world has to realize that while civil rights are extremely important they cannot be abused and thus risk the lives of hundreds or even thousands of people. We here in Israel are used to security checks at the airport, the trains station, shopping malls and so on. However, the good citizens of most other Western countries strongly object to these checks and call them an invasion of their "civil liberties". They should be asked is would you rather be blown to bits or wait a few minutes in line at a security check?
25. Let real daily life run undisturbed by horror possibil
H.H.M. ,   israel   (11.29.08)
Let real daily life run undisturbed by horror possibilities Disservice to Israel’s public by the publisher, editor, writers to prescribe such an imaginary was made, by extra ordinary possible terror operation on Israel’s territory. Tension of Israel’s citizens is an integral part of its daily life with its permanent dread of physical attacks in any form from anywhere. - We live with terror, with self defense, with uncounted different terror attacks, with losses of life as our cemetery’s shows. - Israel developed at enormous cost and efforts anti terror, anti attack routine / unfortunately standard partially preventive as well as counter offensive procedures. – Of course always exists need to renew / adopt this plans permanently, owing to over 60 years existing security problems - One has to realize with all these precautions that no 100 percent success is guaranteed in possible situations. - No body needs to read these unfortunately not completely imaginable situations, as futuristic samples, even for potential terrorist.
26. Sderot is different?
Adam Eliyahu Berkowi   (11.30.08)
27. Israel's Nightmare
tom ,   new york, us   (12.01.08)
Under international law fighters not in uniform are considered spies and can be shot . additionally PA " workers" who sneak into Israel should be considered spies, after all how do you know that someone who says he's looking for work isn't a spy. Israel should condemn these individuals to the death penalty , which will be carried out unless Shalit is released , or there is a major terrorist attack. It should be remembered that Iran executed " Israeli spies " and Lebanon returned 2 kidnapped Israeli soldiers as corpses.
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