Israel Matzav

Trouble waiting to happen

In a post about the drastic reduction of checkpoints in Judea and Samaria, the IDF blog tells us that there are no checkpoints between Bethlehem and Hebron. If you go to that post and click to enlarge the map, you will see that there are actually no checkpoints in Judea south of Jerusalem. Of course, that would explain why four Israelis were murdered in a terror attack south of Hebron on August 31 [UPDATE - ISRAEL RADIO JUST REPORTED THAT ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THE IDF KILLED THE TWO TERRORISTS WHO CARRIED OUT THIS ATTACK. CiJ]. There are also no checkpoints in the area of Rimonim Junction, where a terror attack took place two days later.

The 'Palestinians' have no less desire to commit terror attacks than they had six or seven years ago. While the 'security fence' has made the execution of terror attacks more difficult within the 1949 armistice lines, it does little to protect most of Judea and Samaria. And while the IDF is still arresting terrorists nightly, it is almost inevitable that - assuming 'direct talks' continue - Israel will come under pressure to pull the IDF out of the areas in and around the 'Palestinian cities' and allow the Dayton Forces to take over.

Several months ago, I had to drive someone from Jerusalem to Beitar at night. To get to Beitar you take a tunnel road (where the outdoor parts between the two tunnels have cement blocks on the side of the road to prevent 'Palestinians' from shooting as they did in 2000-03). Then just past the huge, professional-looking Bethlehem soccer stadium, you hang a right, drive past Hussan (which is fenced in by a high fence to prevent rock throwing, but which unfortunately has been the scene of a number of instances recently in which 'Palestinians' threw stones and firebombs at cars) and then make a left into Beitar. This is beyond the 1949 armistice lines, but within the 'security fence' because Beitar is part of the Etzion bloc, which is one of the 'settlement blocs' Israel hopes to keep in a final agreement with the 'Palestinians.'

On the way back, the tunnel was closed, and we were detoured through an Arab village called Walajeh. Walajeh is considered relatively safe, but it was 11:30 at night, the road was narrow and not well lit (and the 'Palestinians' are notorious for ruining road signs) and I had never driven it before. I got as close to the tunnel as I could, got out of the car, and went to ask the police officer whether there was any way to use the tunnel. I told him that my car was unprotected and that I was afraid to drive through Walajeh. He asked from where I had come, and I said that I came from Beitar. He shrugged his shoulders and said 'you weren't driving in Switzerland there either.'

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:39 PM