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West Bank Security Arrangements Suggested by Americans Are Irrelevant in Salafi Era

(Ynet News) Guy Bechor - A new force is growing in the territories, the Salafi movement. Two huge demonstrations by the movement in central West Bank cities were attended by tens of thousands carrying black al-Qaeda flags. They hate the Palestinian Authority more than they hate Israel, and they hate Hamas too. Their proclaimed aspiration is to establish an Islamic caliphate all across the Middle East. Just imagine the West Bank without the permanent presence of the IDF. Within several days the territory will turn into Salafiland. The "security arrangements" the Americans are talking about may have been relevant for the 1980s, but the Salafi Spring changed everything. Salafi gangs - al-Qaeda terrorists - have turned into one of the main threats to Israel. Using shoulder-fired missiles, they can bring Ben-Gurion Airport to a standstill. Would the Americans be willing to place the White House under the threat of missiles? Then why are they suggesting that Israel do that with the Salafi storm raging all over the region? The writer heads the Middle East Division at the Lauder School of Government at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.
2013-12-09 00:00:00
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