Perspective from within Israel:
"An unknown number of Israelis are missing and believed to have been inside or near the World Trade Center when it was struck by terrorists on Tuesday. Indeed, some reports suggest that the number could be larger than all of the Israeli casualties in this past year's string of Palestinian terrorist attacks (another Israeli woman has reportedly been shot dead tonight north of Jerusalem). Many Israelis have American friends or relatives who worked in the world famous twin towers--which were designed by an Israeli architect. The government has established special telephone numbers and an emergency center to assist Israeli citizens seeking information about missing relatives or friends.
All of this has added to the sense of deep mourning in Israel as people absorb the reality that the country's close ally and widely perceived protector is as vulnerable to suicide terrorist attacks as Israel has been, if not more so. Flags have been flying at half mast throughout the country today after the cabinet declared an official day of mourning for the untold thousands of victims killed or wounded in the world's worst ever terrorist outrage. Hundreds of Israelis have gathered outside of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv and in Rabin Square to light candles and sign condolence books. President Moshe Katsav was among many who donated blood to be flown to New York as soon as possible. Israel's air space is being slowly reopened after it was closed as a security precaution to most foreign flights last night.
Yasser Arafat also donated blood today in a show of solidarity with the United States (some Israelis saw it as only a show). He was said to be angry at televised scenes of hundreds of Palestinians rejoicing in the streets of several Palestinian towns last night after news of the atrocious attacks came in. Indeed, several Palestinian cameramen who work for foreign media outlets were threatened with retribution if their networks continued to broadcast the footage. While most Israeli analysts said Arafat was probably genuinely sad over the US attacks--despite recent harsh statements that he made against the Bush administration--most of the Arabs he governs are more ambivalent, if not ecstatic, over the mass massacre. Many, including senior Hamas leaders, justified the multiple airplane hijackings and suicide attacks as being well-deserved since the US "supports the Zionist terrorist state."
Ironically, this unprecedented day of mourning for an overseas terror attack coincided with the reopening of the Sbarru pizzeria, destroyed in a suicide terrorist blast just over one month ago. The ceremony in the heart of Jerusalem was attended by the US ambassador and other officials. Among them was one of Israel's Chief Rabbis, who called upon Muslim leaders to revoke the fatwa, or religious ruling that sanctions suicide attacks as a legitimate form of waging jihad holy war. Meanwhile one American tourist, visiting Israel as part of a Jewish solidarity tour, told reporters that her life was actually spared because she was here. It turns out that Marilyn Cranney worked on the 70th floor in one of the destroyed World Trade towers. She is mourning the probable death of most of her fellow Morgan Stanley co-workers.
With security forces remaining on a high state of alert, senior Israeli leaders continue to hold high level consultations to consider the possible ramifications of the horrendous attacks on the tense Middle East. They are said to be skeptical that the highly coordinated attacks were carried out exclusively by a rouge terrorist group, such as Osama Bin Laden's, acting entirely alone. Various Israeli analysts have noted that there is strong evidence that arch terrorist Bin Laden has received substantial aid in the past from various Mideast states, especially Iran, Libya, Sudan and Iraq, along with the extremist Islamic Taliban government in Afghanistan. One or more may have commissioned his forces, or others, to carry out the assaults on their behalf. Some also suspect that militant Palestinian Muslim elements may well have played a significant role in the anti-American plot. Israeli leaders are reportedly expecting some US military retribution in the region in the coming days or weeks, and want to be fully prepared if Saddam Hussein or others try to use such action as an excuse to launch an attack against Israel." |
