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December 26, 2003/Tevet 1 5764, Vol. 56, No. 14
Support for security
Kyl, Flake back Israel's construction of fence
BARRY COHEN
Editor
Until a true partner for peace exists, the Israelis have little choice but to build a security fence to separate them from the Palestinians, said Sen. Jon Kyl and Rep. Jeff Flake after a recent trip to Israel.
Kyl and Flake took part in the Joint Knesset-Congress Interparliamentary Conference Dec. 14-18, along with Sen. Susan Collins (R - Maine) and Rep. Jane Harman (D - Calif.).
Though the fence is "controversial," said Flake, "I certainly see the reason for it."
"As long as the Palestinian Authority isn't serious about ending the violence and negotiating, as long as Arafat is firmly in control and untrustworthy, then the Israelis have to take security into their own hands," he said.
Kyl said the Israelis have been unfairly criticized for building the fence.
"The United States government basically (told the Israelis that 'we don't want you to take offensive action against terror,' " even as the United States has taken action against Al Qaida, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, said Kyl. "Instead, we said for them to 'do your best to defend yourself.' "
Yet when the Israelis began building a fence to prevent suicide attackers from entering Israel, they were condemned, he said.
"You're darned if you do and darned if you don't," said Kyl.
Kyl said the members of congress toured a section of the security fence and learned how it has saved lives by preventing potential Palestinian terrorists from crossing into Israel.
The section they visited had an outer wire fence and an inner barrier of electric sensors and a deep ditch, said Kyl.
"If you find somebody in that area in between, he's up to no good," he noted.
"The electric sensors on the second fence alert the (Israeli) patrol that there's somebody trying to cross, and they have people that within 10 minutes can get to the site," explained Kyl. The barrier was designed to necessitate at least 10 minutes to break through, he noted.
In addition to touring the fence, the congressional delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Knesset members, leaders from Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces, and Finance Minister Benjamin Netan-yahu.
They also had meetings with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and traveled to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah.
Kyl and Flake both said that Qurei is not a partner for peace.
"He's very capable, very articulate and very irrelevant" - irrelevant because Yasser Arafat is still in control, said Flake.
"He himself acknowledges that he will do what Arafat wants," said Kyl. Qurei may say he supports the road map for peace, but he also says he will not act against Arafat's wishes, said Kyl.
The visit also provided insight into the threats to Israel posed by Syria and Iran, Kyl said.
The Israelis continue to be concerned about how Syria is "harboring and assisting" Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, he said.
"But if you had to name one country that is of most concern to the Israeli defense people, it's Iran," because Iran is a state-sponsor of terror and because it is developing a nuclear program.
Kyl said Israeli leaders want the United States to remain engaged in the region and maintain ties with Iran.
"I believe we could do more in supporting the democratic elements in Iran (without) backing them militarily," noted Kyl.
Flake noted that the United States could learn much about security from the Israelis.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is relatively new, said Flake, "but the Israelis have been working on homeland security for as long as they have been a state."
Contact the writer at barry_cohen@jewishaz.com.
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