NCJ Number
81369
Date Published
1980
Length
284 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from a study that examined what and how much should be done by Israel to counter the threat of Palestinian terrorism.
Abstract
An historical analysis focuses on Palestinian low level violence and Israeli countermeasures. The period covered is from 1919 through 1978. Three periods of Palestinian terrorism are discussed: (1) 1919-1948, when terrorism was conducted by local Arab groups on the growing Jewish population in British-mandated Palestine; (2) 1949-1956, when terrorism was conducted along the 1948 armistice lines by Fedayeen groups infiltrating from Jordan and Egypt; and (3) 1965-1978, when Palestinian terrorism, conducted by a number of groups, aimed at establishing a Palestinian state which would replace Israel. Israeli countermeasures have involved (1) counterforce measures -- countermeasures taken to reduce the terrorists' resources and reduce their capability to strike; (2) impeding -- countermeasures designed to intercept a particular strike before or during its implementation; (3) passive defense -- which involves reducing the yield from completed terrorist operations (e.g., sheltering); and (4) punishment -- reprisal operations and administrative punishment. Israel has demonstrated an intensive reaction to Palestinian terrorism in all the aforementioned areas. It appears that, given Israel's budgetary constraints, more resources have been devoted to the threat of Palestinian terrorism than is warranted by the objective threat. What is required is a cost-effectiveness analysis of all the threats and hazards faced by Israeli society, including such threats as industrial safety, disease, and car accidents, so that a balance may be achieved in developing programs designed to reduce death and injury from all threats. Such a policy approach is recommended because the casualty levels from sources other than terrorism are high in both absolute and relative rates; there are discrepancies in present resource allocation among various casualty-preventing programs; and equating terrorism with other threats to life and safety downgrades its importance and the publicity it receives, thus undermining terrorist goals of stimulating fear and propaganda for its aims. Appended are a description of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israeli countermeasure legislation. A bibliography contains about 60 listings.