beyondzerosum

I am sorry, but these “security experts” have no credibility any more. It is very important to remember that the security forces, i.e. the police, the IDF, the SHABAK and other branches of the government involved in security matters including the State Prosecutors Office are NOT “disinterested non-political experts”. On the contrary, these organizes are highly politicized and have been since the beginning of the state. Unlike in the US where military officers keep their political views to themselves, in Israel it is known that officers were frequently promoted NOT for the professional competance, but for their political reliability. As the Oslo Agreements were implemented it was made clear that in order for an officer to reach senior positions, it was incumbent on them to say that they were “for the peace process” and to claim that Israel was not taking an risks in bringing Arafat and his terror gangs to Israel and that Israel could rely on them to bring security to the Palestinian territories. In return, they would be promoted to more influential positioins. Many officers in effect sold their souls to the devil and made these statements knowing full well they were false. Don’t forget that once an officer reachd a senior position, he knew he would be set for life with cushy jobs on the outside waiting for them, or a possible political career, most likely in the Labor Party.
Tragically, all these assurances from these “security experts” were proven false and the biggest wave of terrorism hit Israel, leading to THOUSANDS of Israeli dead and wounded. The SHABAK saw its intelligence network in the Palestinian territories destroyed, leaving the country very vulnerable.
Similarly, three Prime Ministers who came out of the IDF, Rabin, Barak, and Sharon each took dangerous gambles which cost many civilian lives which shows me a callous indifference to the security of the country and its citizens.
I know it may be shocking to realize that prominent security people were willing to see the population endangered in order to promote a certain political line and, in addition, their own person interests, but tragically, it is a fact. These abandonment of the Israeli population’s security repeated itself when Israel unilaterally withdrew from southern Lebanon and from the Gaza Stip. These same Leftist “security experts” made the same predictions that Israel was supposedly not taking any chances and that the Arabs “wouldn’t dare” to attack, but again, both times they were proven wrong with two wars and massive missile attacks following these foolish moves..
We are now again being assured by these discredited “experts” that Israel can release hundreds of HAMAS terrorists and that Israel is not taking any chances by doing so. This is NOT TRUE. How these men can in good concience make these dishonest statements is beyond me. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SECURITY OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THE COUNTRY. The IDF and SHABAK are betraying their responsibilities if they claim that it is in the “National Interest” to endanger the civilian population. The IDF exists to protect the civilian population and has no justification for its existence if they abandon this responsibility.