[IMRA: It is noteworthy that there is almost no awareness - both in the
political world, media and elswhere - of the tremendous concessions Israel
made with regard to border arrangements. The clueless of reporters on this
matter is so profound that leading reporters covering Israel for top
newspapers both in Israel and abroad frequently write that the European
oberservers at Rafah Crossing have final say when in fact in a
precedent-setting concession the PA has the final say on both the movement
of terrorists and suspected contraband [weapons, explosive, etc.] through
the border,]

Former IDF chief: Gaza now Hamastan, Hizbullahstan

Moshe Yaalon says during Herzliya Conference Israel failed to create
effective, reliable deterrence against rocket attacks; 'Arabs' refusal to
recognize Israel is source of all violence directed against it from dawn of
Zionism to this day,' he adds
Ronny Sofer YNET 23 January 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3205056,00.html

Former IDF chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon said Monday that Gaza has turned into
"Hamastan, Hizbullahstan and al-Qaedastan" following Israel's withdrawal
from the area last summer.

Speaking at the Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel's National
Security, Yaalon said Israel easily gave up on principles such as border
supervision and demilitarization.

The former IDF head said Israel failed to create effective and reliable
deterrence against rocket attacks, saying, "Israel's unilateral withdrawals
were perceived as escape from the rocket threat. Israel failed to create
reliable deterrence for the future."

"The Arabs' refusal to recognize Israel is the source of all the violence
directed against it from the dawn of Zionism to this day," he added.

'Warning signs'

"As long as this does not change, Israel will be prone to violence. The 1967
borders do not provide an answer to the threat of rocket and suicide bombing
attacks, nor do they provide an answer to the threat of conventional
attacks.

"In order to withstand terror we must remain firm in the belief in the
justice of our ways; post and anti-Zionist trends have infiltrated public
debate and the decision-making process," he said.

Yaalon went on to slam the Palestinian Authority, saying it has breached
every agreement with Israel.

"The Palestinians do not recognize our right to live within the 1967
borders. Their decision to wage war in September 2000 was aimed at
dodging the need to recognize Israel as a sovereign state," he said.

"All of these are warning signs ahead of determining the country's permanent
borders - either by way of agreement or unilaterally. As long as there is no
acceptance of our right to exist, the Israeli leadership should assume any
determined border will be challenged by violent acts, unless there is
deterrence. The more vulnerable we appear, the bigger the temptation is to
attack us."

(01.23.06, 13:03)