Top reservists: Roadblocks in W. Bank do more harm than good

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A group of top Israel Defense Forces reserve officers are set to unveil Wednesday a new position paper according to which the 550 roadblocks in the West Bank serve to increase the motivation to commit terror attacks, and removing a significant portion of them would help calm the security situation and undermine Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.

Former MI heads, Civil Administration heads, and commanders of divisions, brigades and regiments operating in the West Bank and Gaza, said in the paper addressed to Defense Minister Ehud Barak that even though roadblocks prevent terror attacks in the short term, they induce frustration and infringe on basic human rights of Palestinians, thereby fueling terror in the long term.

The signatories will take part in a conference in Jerusalem's Van Leer Institute on Wednesday, and outline an alternative plan to the current web of roadblocks, which is based on a more flexible deployment of forces and pinpointed intelligence. The officers say that in parallel to an increased use of temporary roadblocks, Israel should advance the construction of the separation fence and instruct the IDF to work in closer cooperation with the Palestinian security forces.

Following his promise to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last summer to reduce the number of roadblocks, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Defense Minister Ehud Barak to review the issue of mobility in the West Bank, but the revision is still underway.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/953534.html

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. While I'm all for removing checkpoints, as one of the myriad means of oppression employed bya brutal

military occupier, I'm not clear how that move would undermine Hamas in Gaza.

Is the logic that if Israel doesn't appear so "mean" Palestinians won't reject the occupation as vociferously?... that greater numbers of Palestinians would accept Abu Mazen the collaborator? That the collaborator has "made life better" and thus... what?

Sometimes I think TPTB in Israel believe their own spin.

How sad that in 1988 the demand of the Palestinian leadership was for an independent state. Now it's for fewer checkpoints.

[bemildred]

2. Less pissed off Palestinans == Less support for Hamas.

A not unreasonable argument, although I would agree that it would not lead to any sudden decline in Hamas' support. Possibly the opposite might occur. But persisting in a stupid and failed policy won't get you much in any case.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. I don't disagree that fewer checkpoints is better.

But it should be one tiny component of dismantling the huge occupation apparatus.

Do you notice the pattern of creating new apparati, and then offering to dismantle the latest bits of it as the concession? It's not just the checkpionts, or just the wall, or just the siege, or just the stolen land, or just the targeted assassinations,or just the lack of movement, or just the thousands who sit in jail, or just the destroyed economy, or just the refugees... it's all of it.

[bemildred]

6. Oh yeah, that's an old pattern.

Hardly invented by the Israelis either. But then, their internal politics is just as, uh, "complicated". I expect you have seen the "we're going to dismantle the illegal outposts shortly" thread?

[oberliner]

3. Last time I checked the Palestinian leadership have not dropped the demand for an independent state

Hopefully, Palestinians and Israelis can refocus their energies on making that a reality.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

5. Could have fooled me. nt