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Why Israel Needs a Fence

(New York Times) Binyamin Netanyahu - Israel is not building the fence on territory that under international law can be properly called "Palestinian land." The fence is being built in disputed territories that Israel won in a defensive war in 1967 from a Jordanian occupation that was never recognized by the international community. The fence is not a permanent political border but a temporary security barrier. A line that is genuinely based on security would include as many Jews as possible and as few Palestinians as possible within the fence. Israel's security fence will include about 80% of Jews and only 1% of Palestinians who live within the disputed territories. The West Bank security fence has already drastically reduced the number of suicide attacks. The obstacle to peace is not the fence but Palestinian leaders who have yet to abandon terrorism and the illegitimate goal of destroying Israel. Should Israel reach a compromise with a future Palestinian leadership committed to peace, there will be no reason for a fence at all. The Palestinians complain that their children are late to school because of the fence. But too many of our children never get to school - they are blown to pieces by terrorists who pass into Israel where there is still no fence. Because the court's decision makes a mockery of Israel's right to defend itself, the government of Israel will ignore it. Israel will never sacrifice Jewish life on the debased altar of "international justice."
2004-07-13 00:00:00
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