EITHER SECURITY OR WITHDRAWAL Rehavam Ze'evi PERES COULDN'T; BIBI CAN Shimon Peres did not carry out the Hebron withdrawal that he signed, because he knew that at least half of the Jews in Israel would not only object, but would simply not accept such an act. But Binyamin Netanyahu, unfortunately, knows that he can carry out the withdrawal, just as only Begin was able to give over the Sinai to Egypt. A SOLUTION WITH NO CHANCES Netanyahu is leading the way to an impossible solution to the Hebron issue--one which has no chance of success. He wants two things: to abide by the Peres-Beilin withdrawal agreement, and also to provide security for the Jews living there. Unfortunately, the two are mutually exclusive. It's either security, or withdrawal; he must choose. Meanwhile, he's trying to position himself properly, and trying to get the Jews used to the idea that agreements must be kept. Of course, the Labor government itself did not live up to its agreements with the residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza; after all, it and its predecessors sent them to live there, but suddenly Prime Minister Netanyahu promised his electorate in no uncertain terms that he would remain loyal to Jewish Hebron. If he does not keep these promises, we will not be able to forgive ourselves for electing him. decided upon a policy of "drying them out." Maybe it felt that agreements with its own citizens are less important than those made with the head of a terrorist ring who himself has not lived up to the agreements he signed with us. THE SCENARIO IS CLEAR Netanyahu is fooling himself by toying with the idea of having both security and keeping Israel's Hebron commitment to Arafat. Jews in Hebron, and in other places, cannot be safe if the Israeli Army and the Shin Bet cannot operate freely throughout the city and its environs. An IDF-free Hebron will soon be filled with Hamas terrorists. Let us not delude ourselves that the Palestinian police will protect the Jews there. The scenario is

clear: The terrorist attacks will resume, Arafat will condemn the attacks, the government will make threats, a closure will be declared on Hebron, the attacks will cease for a while, everyone will forget. Then again: Hebron Jews attacked, more funerals, more condemnations and threats, another closure, then a respite, then more attacks, until finally the Jews leave Hebron. Then begins the struggle for Jerusalem. IDF MUST BE WHERE THE ATTACKS ORIGINATE Binyamin Netanyahu's advisors are drawing a map for him of a territorial contiguity between Kiryat Arba and the Jewish neighborhoods of Hebron, including the Cave of the Patriarchs. This area is to be under the control of the IDF, who will have withdrawn from the rest of the city. It looks nice on the map, and if it were not for the fact that I happen to know the terrain, I would have almost been convinced. The fact is that a contiguity of this sort does not exist and is impossible to create, for, in this precise area, there are more Arab residents than Jews. Such a plan presents a great danger because of the following clear and simple reason: It is impossible to protect a Jewish ghetto of this sort from within; it must be protected from outside, i.e., from positions within the entire city of Hebron, from where attacks can originate. Any military officer who says otherwise is simply lying and deceiving. LOYALTY TO JEWISH HEBRON Prime Minister Netanyahu promised his electorate in no uncertain terms that he would remain loyal to Jewish Hebron. If he does not keep these promises, we will not be able to forgive ourselves for electing him. Among other statements, he said the following: "Hebron is the oldest Jewish city. Whoever abandons it, abandons Jewish tradition, and endangers the safety of Hebron's Jews who are keeping the ancient flame alive." Bibi: don't abandon Jewish Hebron and the ancient flame. Knesset Member Rehavam Ze'evi is chairman of the Moledet Party. He is an IDF general (Res.) who served as head of the Army's Central Command. This essay was recently broadcast on the Israeli radio station Arutz 7.

September 1996               - 7 -               Outpost