The Main New York Times Editorial Today...
April 12, 2002
Bulldozing Hope in the Mideast
One tragic consequence of this month's Israeli military offensive across the West Bank has been the heavy blow it inflicted on a Palestinian economy and civil society that had begun to show signs of life. If these two proud and talented peoples are ever to live side by side in peace and cooperation, one obvious prerequisite will be a Palestinian economy that generates jobs and prosperity for its people and civil institutions that can broaden debate and begin to supplant the paramilitary secular and Islamist groups that now monopolize Palestinian political activity.
Israel's long-term interest lies in nurturing Palestinian development, not demolishing it. While Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's determination to strike back at terrorists is understandable, Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes, businesses and public utilities is not. Knocking down houses, destroying electricity pylons and interfering with health care, as Israeli forces have done across the West Bank, cannot be justified by any compelling military need.
The Palestinians are among the most educated and entrepreneurial people in the Arab world. Yet economic progress was disappointingly slow in the first years after the Oslo peace agreement. Official corruption, Israeli military blockades of Palestinian towns and uncertainty about the future all worked to discourage investment and disrupt commerce. Several years ago, promising signs of improvement appeared, helped by aid from the United States, the European Union, the Arab League and international organizations. Industrial parks and malls began to sprout, including some financed by Palestinian-Americans. There was a successful casino in Jericho and a new airport in Gaza.
These gains have been obliterated by the past 19 months of conflict, with the greatest damage concentrated in the past two weeks. Yasir Arafat bears much of the blame. Now Israel claims to have proof that he has not only failed to oppose terrorism but has directly authorized it. Still, Israeli military tactics are responsible for much of the civilian destruction.
While the ostensible goal of Israel's offensive is capturing terrorists and uprooting their organizations, it has resulted in a prolonged siege affecting hundreds of thousands of civilians trying to go about their everyday lives. Mr. Sharon needs to make it clear to his commanders that Palestinian civilians are not Israel's enemy and that their lives, livelihoods and property deserve respect.
Better yet, with Secretary of State Colin Powell in Israel, Mr. Sharon should belatedly heed President Bush's call for immediate withdrawal. Continuing this offensive may yield more terrorist arrests, but at grievous cost to Israel's long-term interests.
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