The heart bleeds

In his previous government roles, Avigdor Lieberman took part in the type of emergency meetings that are held following a terror attack. Yesterday, however, he did so for the first time as defense minister, forcing him to recognize the limitations of the use of force and share the frustration at not being able to use its full potential. He again brought up the issue of demolishing terrorist's homes as soon as possible, and this time it was another well-known figure, Dr. Avichai Mendelblit, who until recently served as cabinet secretary, who reminded Lieberman that "We are a country governed by laws." Moreover, a sensible government would not want to expropriate the court's authority to decide the proportionality in destroying a house, even if such a move is more likely to bring Israel closer to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

It is not easy. The heart bleeds for the four citizens who were so senselessly murdered, and rage boils over when the Palestinian Authority is late to condemn the terror, and even more so when some of the enlightened Western media outlets refer to the massacre as merely a "shooting incident." As was the case in Paris? Istanbul? Or is terrorism only an "incident" in the Holy Land? Channel 2's Arad Nir explained yesterday -- the West insists on believing its problems stem from the lack of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is, of course, an illusion that ignores the essence of the cultural challenge presented by the Islamic State group.

The government knows there is no military solution to terror. If there were -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have used it in the past. But there is a way to avoid fanning the flames and to delay the next violent outburst. It is almost a mathematical equation: To what extent should Israel increase the number of IDF and Shin Bet security forces in the Palestinian territories in Judea and Samaria, demolish homes and deport the relatives of terrorists when at almost every cabinet meeting, one hears the acronyms ICC (the International Criminal Court in The Hague) and BDS (the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement). There is a diplomatic price to be paid.

These days are not just an expression of the grief we share as a nation in light of the celebrations of the Palestinian terror organizations. They are also a call for reflection. Moshe Ya'alon understood that there is no point in holding on to the bodies of terrorists. Now we are hearing statements to the contrary from Lieberman as well as Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan. If they want to withhold the bodies, let them, but such a move will not have much of an impact on terrorism.

An ideal response to the terrorism would be twofold: Refrain from populist statements about reigning in terror, and adhere to a formula whereby the government works to minimize casualties in the event of an attack and actually completes and equips the long-neglected security fence. Avi Dichter, who has been appointed chairman of the Foreign ‎Affairs ‎and ‎Defense ‎Committee, owes it to the nation and to himself as one of the few people who actually pulled the barbed wire around that fence.

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו