Lessons of the Second Intifada

[ Ynet News] Sever Plocker - The second Intifada, which started in October 2000 and ended in October 2004, disproved two commonly accepted assumptions: that economic prosperity brings peace, and that terrorism cannot be defeated by force. The second Intifada broke out at the zenith of Palestinian economy prosperity after the Oslo Accords. It cost the Palestinians an economic loss of a generation. It will take at least 10 to 15 years before the Palestinian per capita income will return to its level on the eve of October 2000. The welfare and future of millions of Palestinians were sacrificed on the altar of maintaining the zeal of the national and religious revolution. Yasser Arafat and Ahmed Yassin wanted violence, ongoing war, blood, and fire - and that's what they got. Thousands of their countrymen paid the price of their caprice, and for nothing. There is no arguing that Israel scored an overwhelming and unpredictable win in the second Intifada.


2008-06-23 01:00:00

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