Figure 1.--Relatives and friends mourn during a funeral for victims of a suicide attack on a crowded Jerusalem cafe, the Cafe Moment. Eleven civilians were killed and more than fifty injured in the attack on March 9, 2002. Hamas claimed responsibility. (c) Reuters Ltd.

The Isreali Defense Force (IDF) actions at Jenin and Nablus during 2002 must be viewed in the larger context of the Interfada. Palestinians charge that IDF actions in Jenna and Nabblus surin 2002 were examples of Isreali genocide aimed at the Palestinian people and charge a massacre took place. The Isrealis maintain that the action was necesitated by Paestinian suiside attacks against Isreali citizens. Unbiased assessments report that there was no massacre, but that the Isrealis about 20 civilians were killed and that the IDF was responsible for human rights violations. Given the predominance of Isreali military power, it seems obvious some degree of restraint was involved. And it must be considered that the Isreali action was brought about because the Palestinians were targeting Isreali civilians.

Palestinian Suiside Attacks

Palestinian suiside attacks began in earnest (2001). They increased in intensity during early 2002. These attacks became more and more deadly. They reached a peak when when nearly 100 Isreali civilians were murdered (March 2002). One of the most deadly was an attack on a family seder celebration. It should be note that the Isrealis targeted in these attacks were not IDF soldiers, but innocent Isreali citizens of all ages going about their lives. Of course terminology is highly value laden. Most Palestinians would call the suiside bombers resistance fighters. We think the term "terrorist" is more appropriate because the targets were mostly innocent civilians, including children and women. This is a very complicated subject and difficult for many Westeners to understand. One of the most informative assessments of this issue is a Human Rifgts Watch (HRW) report.

Oslo Peace Process

The Palestinians had been granted autonomous rule of Nablus, Jenin and other West Bank cities as part of the Oslo peace accords. At the heart of the Oslo Peace Process was a commitment to persue a two state settlement of the issues between the Isrealis and Palestine through peaceful negotiations.

Palestinian Tactics

Palestinian leaders decided to launch a campaign of terror and suicide bombings. It is difficult to assess motivations here. For some Palestinins there was a disastisfaction with the terms offered by the Isrealis. For other there was a total rejection of the peace process and any acceptance of Isrrael's right to exist. It is difficult to assess the importance of these two positions within the Palestinian community. The Palestinian attacks in March were largely organized by Palestinian "resistance" cells in Jenin and Nablus, financed by the Palestinian Authority with the clear approval of PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. the Palestinian Authority took no action to stop these attacks. Chairman Arafat condemned violence publicly, especially when speaking with the Western media. Privately he used PLO funds to help finance terrorist operations.

International Reaction

The international community took no action to stop the Palestinian suiside attacks. In fact the international community was helping to finance the attacks. At the same time American and European funds were supporting the Palestine Authority, some of which was beong siphoned off to help finance PLO terror attacks. Sadam Hussein in Iraq paid a bounty to the families of suiside bombers.

Isreal Government Debate

Isreali officials debated what to do about the suiside attacks. There was disagreement over what actions to take. The deadly attacks on the eve of Passover forced the Goverment's hand (2002). The death toll reached proportions that no Government could ignore. And the Isreali public denanded action. The Government's response was Operation Defensive Shield.

Operation Defensive Shield

The IDF as part of Operation Defensive Shield was ordered into the West Bank to arrest the terrorists and dismantle their facilities. It was not a surprise operation. Rather the Isreali Government repeatedly warned civilians to leave the areas targeted. Most civilians did leave. Some could not find transport. Others stayed in a show of "solidarity" with the terrorists. soldiers. The Palestinians resisting the IDF alrgough surrounded refused to surrender, The IDF decided that the only way to overcome the snipers and terrorists was to destroy the area in the center of Jenin where the Palestinian fighters were holed up. The IDF again asked the civilians in the area to leave. The IDF in the ensuing action killed 56 Palestinians. [HRW report] Most were armed Palestinian fighters. About 20 are believed to have been Palestinian civilians.

Figure 2.--Relatives hold photographs of 38-year-old Wadah Shalabi, with Wadah's son looking on. Wadah Shalabi and his neighbor Abd al-Karim Sa'adi, aged 27, were killed by Israeli soldiers during a search of their home. (c) 2002 Peter Bouckaert/Human Rights Watch

Criticism

Palestinian sources charge that the Israelis massacred 500 civilians. There seem to be no reliable confirmation for such a charge. The HRW report found no evidence of any such massacre. The HRW did find evidence of IDF human rights violations. The HRW is an honest organization, although generally biased against the use of force. Readers can review the HRW report for details on the aledged IDF abuses. Important to keep in mind, however, is that the HRW does not provide an alternative non-violent way for the Isrealis to end the suiside bombing. One of the most disquieting charges leveled by the HRW against the IDF was the use of human shields. While the number of individuals involved is small, it is a clear violation of international law. The HRW does not, however, address the Palestinian use of human shields. Given the predominance of Isreali military power, it seems obvious even with the death of 22 civilians, some degree of restraint was involved. And it must be considered that the Isreali action was brought about because the Palestinians were actually targeting Isreali civilians. It seems hiprocriticall for the Palestinians to target anf justify the murder of Isreali civilians, but to be outraged when their civilians are killed. Because the action at Jenin occurred close to the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Urising (Passover 1943) some pro=Palestinian journalists have attempted to compare the two. There is in fact no comparison and the suggestion can only be described as obscene.

Sources

Human Rights Watch (HRW). "Erased In A Moment: Suicide Bombing Attacks Against Israeli Civilian" (2002).

Human Rights Watch (HRW) "Jenin: IDF Military Operations" (2006). The detailed HRW report found no evidence of the massacre alledged by the Palestinians, but did find evidence of IDF human rights violations.

Created: 4:41 PM 1/17/2007
Last updated: 4:41 PM 1/17/2007