Ways of Coping with Terror
Lecture given by Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer at the Israel Hi-Tech Summit

Jerusalem----October 24......When we talk about terror, which to our misfortune has been accompanying Israel since its establishment, it would be wise to begin by defining the concept terror.

Terror is a kind of limited struggle in which violence is used against civilians as a way of action in order to achieve political objectives.

In the case of Islamic Terror the definition may be expanded by adding religious objectives.

In order not to remain on a theoretical level only, I would like to analyze the conflict which Israel has been involved in since its establishment, in which terror is used against the citizens of the State of Israel, while focusing on the armed conflict against the Palestinians over the past year.

Terror is not only Israel's problem, it is exploited against countries worldwide, as we have recently witnessed. Even a great Superpower is not protected from terror.

Terror has several main features:

a. Hitting the country's "soft spot" - striking at its citizens. It receives large media coverage, sometimes even on a global level (such as in the case of the terror in the United States).
b. Undermining citizens' sense of security.
c. Hitting civilians without any categorical distinction (as opposed to guerilla warfare in which there are military and Establishment-related objectives).
d. Terror does not take rules and international conventions into account, nor any law, including moral and international laws (terror is free of any state or global law and order).

e. Terror uses any feasible weapon, including the use of civilian technological platforms as the basis for weaponry and ammunition (for example, in the case of the Twin Towers, Bin-Laden converted the plane into a weapon and the fuel into ammunition, thus multiplying the force of the destruction, the killing and its intensity.
f. The type of terror that is selected is one which, in the opinion of those executing it, promotes the political objectives in the best and quickest way.
g. Using advanced technologies in the civilian domain and converting them into a terror component.

The components of the threat of international terror:

a. Terror is used by organizations to achieve national objectives in various countries throughout the world (Islamic terror, which is aimed to harm Jews anywhere in the world - embassies, synagogues, etc.).
b. Internal terror within the country which is used mainly in civil wars when a group within the country wishes to achieve political results through terror (for example - Ireland).
c. Inter-state terror - when one country uses terror (and not guerilla warfare or full-scale war) against another country usually characterizes weak countries that cannot defeat a rival country through a conventional struggle.

Components of terror in the State of Israel
Who implements terror?

a. The Palestinian Authority which claims the right to its own country on its own terms within the State of Israel and uses direct or indirect terror to achieve this end through other terror organizations over which it, has no control or has no desire to control.
b. Terror organizations bearing the flag of the liberation of Palestine which are built upon radical Muslim religious movements (Hamas, Islamic Jihad).
c. National liberation movements that are not religiously based but rather nationally based (such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine which assassinated Minister Gandhi.)

Ways of activating terror

a. Suicide bombers in densely populated centres as the number one component.
b. Car bombs in densely populated centres in order to convert cars into a bomb which is a weapon and ammunition, particularly within the borders of the Green Line.
c. Shooting attacks against civilians on the roads (in Judea and Samaria region and in the Gaza Strip area, but recently, also within the Green Line).
d. Shooting at settlements (with small arms or mortars) with the objective of hitting civilians and property within the settlement.
e. The objective of all forms of terror is the attack against a maximum number of civilians anywhere with no geographical distinction or differentiation between the type of civilians.

Recently, in the Gaza Strip, we have seen entry into settlements as well (Elei Sinai) and an attack on civilians within the settlement without any distinction.

Ways of coping with terror

a. Having a full supply of bearance and patience -personal and social strength, because without this component there is no way of coping with terror over time.
b. Good and focused intelligence and sophisticated methods in creative implementation to seek and acquire intelligence (while using advanced technological means).
c. Self-protection - searching the terrorist everywhere and attempting to strike at him prior to the execution of a terror attack.

d. Preventing the exit of terrorist from high-risk cities by imposing internal and external closures. I wish to clarify that our forces that have surrounded some Palestinian cities, are only taking security measured as arresting terrorists and preventing exporting terror attacks from the cities. Our only goal is to act in self-defense, we have no wish to stay there or to occupy these territories or to destroy the Palestinian authority. Our only intention is to prevent terror attacks and make the Palestinians begin acting against terror.
e. Setting obstacles to prevent the departure of terrorists (mainly a fence, such as the fence around the Gaza Strip).
f. Punishments- hitting the headquarters and other centers in order to punish those who establish terrorist policy and those who send the terrorists.
g. Separating between the war against terror (hitting the terrorists and those who sent them) while creating a relief program to the innocent.

h. Attempt to reach an understanding at the negotiating table, to put an end to terror (unfortunately, we do not see any partner for this purpose, at the moment).

What is our greatest disadvantage in handling terror?

The best way to fight terror is to use terror itself.
The State of Israel, which has selected a path based on values and ethics, cannot allow itself to kill innocent civilians, women and children.
We cannot pay Palestinian terror back with its own weapon.

The Security-Economic Link

I would like to point out that contrary to the false impression that may be formed - Israel is a very stable country from a security, economic, political and social point of view. We have been living since our establishment under the threat of terror and this has not stopped us from building one of the most advanced and sophisticated economies in the world. Israel has accomplished great achievements in the industrial field, particularly in the advanced industries. (Hi-Tech)

We will continue this trend in the future as well. Unfortunately, we have witnessed how terror can hit any place in the world which promotes Western values.

The Defense Establishment, for its part, shall continue to act to provide maximum security and stability in order to allow Israeli society to continue prospering as it has done since the establishment of the State of Israel.

Our policy is to fight an uncompromising war against terror. We shall steadily continue to strive towards returning to the negotiating table and in the case of the armed conflict with the Palestinians - we are committed to the Tenet and Mitchell Plans and to the quest for a political solution to the conflict.