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Weighing the "Military Solution"

(Washington Post) Jackson Diehl - Two and a half years ago, the Israeli army launched an offensive against the Palestinian towns of Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem which had become havens for extremist groups and suicide bombers who made daily life in Israel unbearable. Palestinian spokesmen claimed, falsely, that thousands were being massacred. Some editorial writers - such as this one - argued that the offensive would do more harm than good. As Americans and Iraqis now debate what to do about insurgent-held Iraqi towns, it's worth revisiting that Israeli campaign - because what followed offers a counter to some of the conventional wisdom. The salient point is that through the robust use of military force, Israel has succeeded in reducing the level of violence it faces by more than 70%. It's now undeniable that the "military solution" that so many believed could not work has brought Israelis an interlude of relative peace.
2004-09-27 00:00:00
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