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Last update - 10:17 24/09/2008 Shooting from the hip doesn't help By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel, terror, Palestinians The circumstances of Monday night's incident in Jerusalem have yet to be fully ascertained. Statements from witnesses and police - which indicate that it was a deliberate attack by a terrorist who found himself a convenient target and simple means of execution - contrast with the family's version of events, according to which this was a car accident involving an inexperienced youth who failed his driving test. If it turns out to have been a terrorist attack, it joins the string of recent attacks in which the perpetrators used their vehicles as weapons. These attacks, which are attributed to individuals rather than organizations and thus become more difficult to pinpoint in advance, are a reminder of the explosive situation in which Jerusalem in particular and Israel in general find themselves. A series of meetings between the prime minister and the Palestinian leadership created a sense of progress on the diplomatic front. The gradual success of the Palestinian leadership in taking upon itself the responsibility for security in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank and the calm along the southern border create the impression that the era of violence is fading: If there still are Palestinian civilians willing to carry out terrorist attacks, they have become isolated, and thus tolerable, cases. Even if the Shin Bet security service struggles to see them coming, harsh and immediate punitive measures, including the destruction of the terrorists' homes, would surely put an end to them. This is an illusion. The diplomatic discussions between Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas, and Tzipi Livni and Ahmed Qureia, have not advanced a diplomatic solution. The Israeli promise to improve living conditions in the territories translated into the removal of a few roadblocks and the release of some 200 Palestinian prisoners, but most parts of the West Bank are still subject to stringent restrictions on movement, unemployment is skyrocketing, and economic growth is virtually nonexistent. The calm in Gaza is hanging by a thread, be it because Israel is not fulfilling its obligations, as charged by Hamas, or due to the inner-Palestinian strife in the territories. This is a temporary and fragile lull that is not backed by a strategic and political plan, all the more so since Israel is busy with its own political backyard and a presidential campaign is underway in Washington. Advertisement In the meantime, the harm done to the Palestinian populace is felt in every home where the main wage earner cannot get to work, a pregnant mother in labor cannot get to a hospital, or a student is not granted a permit to travel abroad for studies. The motivation to carry out terrorist attacks is increasing. In such conditions, thwarting individual hostile acts is an uphill battle. The defense minister's hasty reaction, blaming the legal system for harming the state's ability to respond immediately, seems particularly bizarre. Has razing the homes of terrorists' families prevented terror attacks in the past? Has collective punishment quelled the outbreak of the intifada? Even the security services eventually understood that harsh punishments are no cure. At most, they can provide a sense of revenge. This dangerous and fragile situation does not call for shoot-from-the-hip statements or a political shrug of the shoulders. Even a caretaker government is authorized to make practical decisions that affect the daily life of civilians in the territories and create an atmosphere that will lead to a more positive direction. This way, the government can aid the Palestinian security services in their ongoing efforts against terrorism and perhaps weaken, if not dissolve, the population's support for those lone terrorists ready to carry out attacks. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gilad, forgive us On Rosh Hashanah, Noam Shalit says abduction happened 'on Olmert's watch.' Rosh Hashanah wishes Obama calls to achieve 'peace, security for Israel' on the Jewish High holiday.   1.   How very true 10:37  |  English Resident 24/09/08   2.   Tupical 10:39  |  j10 24/09/08   3.   Nonsense Focus on the War they are planning against us 10:47  |  Shalom Freedman 24/09/08   4.   I`ll Say It Again 10:48  |  Yosemite 24/09/08   5.   editor that is a silly idea 10:50  |  harzion 24/09/08   6.   Financial aid is good, but only the "real deal" will stop terror 10:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/09/08   7.   #2-#5 and their self-deluded nonsense 11:28  |  Johnboy 24/09/08   8.   Haaretz 11:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/09/08   9.   #5 Not just a question of being nice to them 11:54  |  Outsider 24/09/08   10.   Agreed and dissagreed 11:55  |  ScotGuy 24/09/08   11.   I think its fair to consider strategies.... 12:10  |  Dutch Dirk 24/09/08   12.   That was tried over 120 years ago - these are the results 12:20  |  5th generation 24/09/08   13.   johnboy and more ill informed rhetoric 12:38  |  victor hardman 24/09/08   14.   johnboy a feckless schoolboy would not understand 12:43  |  harzion 24/09/08   15.   Trying to make a rotten egg not stink? 13:03  |  Joe Sittizen 24/09/08   16.   well, Scotguy, yes but 13:05  |  Murray 24/09/08   17.   Johnboy rhetorics and sooth saying 13:07  |  Aby 24/09/08   18.   Shooting from the lip doesn`t help either 13:23  |  Meir 24/09/08   19.   The pink elephant 13:25  |  john Smith 24/09/08   20.   # 8 CJK 13:48  |  Vinegar Hill 24/09/08   21.   5th generation #12 14:15  |  S 24/09/08   22.   S re fifth generation 14:45  |  x-ray 24/09/08   23.   Israel should treat Palestinians better for moral reasons 15:01  |  ER 24/09/08   24.   SEVEN THINGS TO STOP IT (AT LEAST) 15:04  |  indrajaya 24/09/08   25.   #16 well,Murray of Milan yes,but.... 15:10  |  Hastaroth 24/09/08   26.   to CJ Kohn #8 15:12  |  zeev 24/09/08   27.   APOLOGISTS FOR ARAB TERROR 15:14  |  Steve 24/09/08   28.   x-ray #22 15:16  |  S 24/09/08   29.   Only way to stop Arab terrorists - SEPARATION 15:20  |  Rick & TC 24/09/08   30.   no. 10: occupation power should pay 15:22  |  rebecka 24/09/08   31.   Why the world`s focus on Israel by moslems? 15:35  |  Kathy 24/09/08   32.   Agreed, but committment to uprooting the SETTLERS is needed! 15:38  |  Ivar 24/09/08   33.   to Aby #17 - (1) what is "so much" ? 15:42  |  zeev 24/09/08   34.   Get Rid Of The Territories 15:43  |  Martin 24/09/08   35.   to Aby #17 - (2) right you are 15:43  |  zeev 24/09/08   36.   Thank you Haaretz 15:44  |  Palestinian in UK 24/09/08   37.   #17 Aby, another one of the coo-coo-crazy`s... 15:45  |  Johnboy 24/09/08   38.   A gilded cage is still a cage 16:05  |  American in NY 24/09/08   39.   zeev the serial quoter 16:12  |  judah 24/09/08   40.   Bombast and lies 16:15  |  Murray 24/09/08   41.   zeev your glib remarks have no value 16:17  |  judah 24/09/08   42.   #35 which treaty did israel ignore in 1967 zeev 16:18  |  victor hardman 24/09/08   43.   the problem of katyushas from lebanon and gaza 16:27  |  harzion 24/09/08   44.   The Israeli Imposed State of Tribal War 16:28  |  Ibrahim 24/09/08   45.   Your answer, Mr. Hardman 17:06  |  Murray 24/09/08   46.   6 ScotGuy - They Don`t Want Israeli Taxpayer Money 17:17  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/09/08   47.   Johnboy try again Part I 17:20  |  Aby 24/09/08   48.   to judah #39 17:23  |  zeev 24/09/08   49.   Nonsense 17:23  |  immaculatecontraptio 24/09/08   50.   improving life of Palestinians 17:26  |  Zaza 24/09/08   51.   not such a clear solution 17:29  |  zmullin 24/09/08   52.   Johnboy Part II 17:30  |  Aby 24/09/08   53.   Haaretz Editorial. 17:59  |  David Nigel Braham 24/09/08   54.   to judah #41 18:04  |  zeev 24/09/08   55.   zeev a long answer with no substance 18:37  |  judah 24/09/08   56.   palestinians have been given BILLIONS 18:40  |  real vision 24/09/08   57.   Better live 18:44  |  Cyper Synic 24/09/08   58.   Not about poverty, cipora 19:15  |  Stella Westwell 24/09/08   59.   Not quite... 19:22  |  John Bob 24/09/08   60.   A very sensible article 19:25  |  Nick Ferriman 24/09/08   61.   Zeev What is so much 19:25  |  Aby 24/09/08   62.   to judah, more on #41 19:44  |  zeev 24/09/08   63.   #55 real bvisions`s selective memory 20:07  |  Mark B. 24/09/08   64.   People aren`t simple economics 20:23  |  Scharker Yid 24/09/08   65.   Swiss (Dino) If Arabs had accepted it 60 years ago 20:40  |  David Israel 24/09/08   66.   Who says improving life in the territories would stop terrorism? 20:45  |  Mladen Andrijasevic 24/09/08   67.   haaretz editorial is sufficient reason 20:56  |  Arie 24/09/08   68.   zeev answer the question 21:04  |  judah 24/09/08   69.   Shooting from the hip 21:08  |  American 24/09/08   70.   THE TERRORIST WAS DRIVING A BMW!!!! 21:36  |  Daniel 24/09/08   71.   Hate to introduce facts to the situation 21:48  |  Gee