The tragic terrorist attack in Jerusalem on Friday has once again reignited the debate over how we should counterterrorism. Social media was replete with the usual mantras that Israel must launch Operation Defensive Shield II, deport Palestinians affiliated with the terrorist, destroy their homes, and use the death penalty.
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But the truth has to be told even in the darkest moments: There never was and never will be a "magic-wand solution" that would do away with terrorism in one fell swoop. Those who utter such statements are just misleading charlatans who do more harm than good.
It's one thing to say these irresponsible things while being in the Opposition (although that is still not something an elected official should do); but when ministers do this, it inflicts real harm on national security.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the scene of the attack shortly after it happened, and he should be commended for that. But he has also conducted himself as if he was just an online commentator who has zero understanding of how his ministry actually works, be it on security in general or in fighting terrorism in particular.
His bombastic statements on the scene were childish and infuriated a "senior political official in Jerusalem" (there is only one such person who could match that description). That official made it clear that decisions on military operations don't get made when the blood boils, but only after proper plans are devised and the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet meets.
To help the minister, here are a few differences between the original Defensive Shield in 2002 and the irresponsible declaration of another one.
Back then, Israel launched the operation so that it could reassert control over the Palestinian cities. Today it has total freedom of operation in Judea and Samaria, and of course in east Jerusalem, which is part of Israel-proper. At the time, the terrorist organizations had hundreds of would-be suicide bombers lining up for attacks and a flurry of explosives labs funded by a steady stream of cash. Today the enemy is mainly in the form of lone-wolf terrorists who take cues from social media.
The preparations for Operation Defense Shield took two years (they began even before the Second Intifada) and these included establishing massive international support. Today the IDF is not ready for an operation of this scope in east Jerusalem, which is not even under its jurisdiction (it's handled by the Israel Police).
This is not a semantic matter. The IDF is not allowed to act against Israeli citizens and the Israel Police does not have the capabilities to engage in a massive operation of the scope the minister suggested. And even if it did, what would the objectives of such an operation be if the enemy is undefined and there is no actionable intelligence on it? It's not the same thing as what the IDF carries out each night across Judea and Samaria with the help of the Shin Bet security agency.
It's doubtful that Ben-Gvir's statements from Friday have any real substance. The perpetrator's home was not owned by him; he was the tenant. Thus, destroying it could be fraught with legal difficulties (not to mention the question of whether this could be done to someone who has mental issues). Deporting families of terrorists is a form of collective punishment whose chances of getting the green light from the courts are slim. Applying the death penalty to terrorists is possible (there is a law that allows this) and it would have a deterrent effect to some degree, but at the same time, it would make such terrorists into superheroes and make their heinous crimes become amplified.
Israel would thus be well-advised to do what it knows how to do best, and has been doing for dozens of years: fight terrorists in a sophisticated way, with resolve, and using a cool-headed approach.
The public is mature and knows this full well, and the hollow promises do harm, especially if they are made by the national security minister and when they are accompanied by irresponsible actions such as the attempt to rebuke the Jerusalem police chief. Such activity only underscores a basic lack of understanding regarding the Israel Police's job, the proper chain of command, and the scope of ministerial prerogatives.
We could have easily dismissed Ben-Gvir's conduct as just part of his learning curve as he settles into his new position, but these are no ordinary times, not domestically and not in terms of fighting terrorism. In the wake of the spate of attacks and turbulence from Gaza, and with the Holy Month of Ramadan about to begin (not to mention the ongoing protests sweeping the country over judicial reforms), Israel needs stable hands at the wheel, not just in the Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Ministry, but also in the National Security Ministry.
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