TALKING POINTS ON THE CRISIS IN ISRAEL
(Developed by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national umbrella organization for all JCRCs and member organizations)

1. Israel has a right to defend itself
We support the current efforts of Israel's government and army to protect the lives of Israeli citizens, to assure its homeland security. This is the most fundamental responsibility of any government. President George Bush repeatedly has stressed Israel's right of self-defense. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said June 19, 2002, "The president believes that Israel is in the middle of recovering from a very serious attack and that Israel has a right to defend itself."

2. The terrorists are targeting innocent Israeli civilians
Since Sep. 2000, 547 innocent Israeli civilians have been killed in more than 70 terrorist attacks (equivalent to over 25,000 Americans based on population ratios). Palestinian terrorists deliberately aim to kill as many people as possible, targeting busy intersections, shopping districts and bus routes in dense population centers. Homicide bombers use screws, bolts and ball bearings to increase the lethality of their attacks. Those who survive are left with horrific physical and emotional scars for a lifetime.

3. Israel's response is a direct result of Arafat's failure to contain terrorism
This tragic situation is a direct result of the failure of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to fulfill his obligations under previously signed agreements to fight terror and stop the incitement against Israel. Some of the recent attacks have been carried out by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but most have been perpetrated by groups associated with Yasser Arafat and the PLO. Although Palestinian Authority officials have issued statements condemning (or not condoning) specific terror attacks, they have failed to take action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure or stop incitement in areas under their control. Under these circumstances, Israel has no choice but to respond.

4. No moral equivalency - Difference in intent
Unfortunately, some in the media and certain public officials continue to blur the lines between terrorism and self-defense. Therefore, it cannot be stressed enough that the targets of Israeli military action are the terrorist leaders and the infrastructure that enables their attacks to be carried out. Civilian casualties on the Palestinian side are always the unintended result of those efforts.

5. Israel wants peace
Israel continues to seek peace with the Palestinian people and its other Arab neighbors. Israel has proven before that it is willing to make sacrifices for peace. Twenty two months ago at Camp David, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak was prepared to accept a permanent settlement that would have given the Palestinians an opportunity to create a state on almost all of the land Israel captured in 1967, including parts of Jerusalem. Arafat responded by launching the wave of violence that has caused so much suffering to Israelis and to his own people. Israel cannot be expected to make any concessions under fire. Unless and until Palestinian leadership acts against terror and incitement, there can be no return to a productive political process.

6. Terrorism can never be justified
There is never justification for the use of terrorism. Official Palestinian representatives and supporters of their cause have focused on the "35 years of Israeli occupation" as the root cause of the suicide attacks. The way to resolve grievances, as envisioned in the Oslo Accords signed by Arafat, is by sitting around the negotiating table, not by committing acts of terrorism. Israel has no interest in controlling the Palestinian people. When there is Palestinian leadership in place that rejects violence in favor of negotiations, a peace agreement will be possible.

3/03