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"Israel Is Paying a Heavy Price for Its Restraint"

(Yediot Ahronot-Ynet) Maj.-Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash - In the first interview of its kind, Head of IDF Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash answered questions from ArabYnet surfers throughout the Arab world. We can say for sure we have the military capability to contain terror. Without this, Hamas would not have reached an understanding that it should seek the path of calm, and Abu Mazen would not have reached the conclusion that the armed intifada must stop. Under the umbrella of calm, the Palestinians are rebuilding their strength. If, God forbid, they receive an order or command to do so, they would abandon the calm within 24-48 hours. Israel is restraining itself because we want to give the other side a chance. We are paying a high price for our restraint. We have intelligence, but we are not acting on it to give them [Palestinians] a chance. They are continuing to rearm and to increase the range and accuracy of their Kassam rockets. From February 21 until March 10, Palestinian security forces carried out more than 150 anti-terror acts, and arrests....[Yet] there were 170 terror activities, including shooting incidents, explosive devices, and other means or terror....Prevention of such acts was not carried out earlier. Abu Mazen plans to stop the intifada. He has managed to instill calm, what he terms "tahadiya," and he is on his way to Cairo where he wants to make a leap to a "hudna," a ceasefire. I don't believe this will be achieved and they will not be able to declare a ceasefire, but the calm will be maintained. Syria's influence in Lebanon shouldn't be measured by the number of tanks and commando forces deployed in Lebanon. Its status and influence should be measured by its diplomatic, political, and economic intelligence involvement.
2005-03-16 00:00:00
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