By Martin Sherman, TOI
If a Palestinian state is established, it will be armed to the teeth. Within it, there will be bases of the most extreme terrorist forces, equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft shoulder-launched rockets, which will endanger not only random passers-by, but every airplane and helicopter taking off in the skies of Israel and every vehicle traveling along the major traffic routes in the coastal plain… – Shimon Peres, “Tomorrow is Now” (Keter publishers), pp. 232, 255.
Israel, small and exposed, will neither be able to exist nor prosper if its urban centers [and] its vulnerable airport…are shelled…this is the terrible danger involved in the establishment of a third independent sovereign state between us and the Jordan River. – Amnon Rubinstein, ‘The Pitfall of a Third State’, Haaretz, Aug 8, 1976.
These two citations convey, with chilling accuracy, the grave perils to which Israel would be exposed if a Palestinian state were ever established on the commanding hills overlooking the country’s heavily populated coastal plain, where about 80% of the country’s civilian population and commercial activity are located.
Location from which photographs were taken
These dangers are dramatically illustrated by the following series of photographs shot from locations inside the territory designated for any future Palestinian state.
All taken on January 31, 2018, using a Canon 7D Mark II camera, fitted with a Sigma Sport 150/600 lens, from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis and Al-Lubban, located about 5 km across the pre-1967 “Green Line” (see map), they vividly convey how vulnerable and exposed Israel would appear through the binoculars of any Palestinian “intelligence officer” (a.k.a. terrorist) perched on those heights.
Ben Gurion Airport hopelessly exposed
The ensuing four photographs depict how utterly exposed the installations and aircraft – both on the ground and in the sky – would be to any hostile forces–even lightly armed–deployed on the highlands east of Israel’s coastal heavily populated coastal plain.
Above: Israel’s only international airport, Ben Gurion – as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban (see buildings in foreground) showing new control tower, the passenger terminal, the duty-free area and planes docking for embarkation/ disembarkation
Above: Israel’s only international airport, Ben Gurion – as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban showing numerous civilian planes on the tarmac
Above: A plane taking off from Ben Gurion, Israel’s only international airport – as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban.
Above: Arkia airliner taking off from Ben Gurion airport – taken from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban. (Camera: Canon 7D Mark with Sigma Sport 150/600 lens.
A tempting target: Israel coastal urban sprawl
The next five photographs convey starkly what a tempting target the office buildings, prestigious apartment blocks the teeming recreational and entertainment centers and central transport arteries (rail and road) would be if the IDF were to evacuate areas earmarked for a future Palestinians state
Above: Tel Aviv skyline showing the iconic Azrieli high-rise complex, adjacent to the Ministry of Defense and IDF’s GHQ, the trans-Tel Aviv Ayalon Highway and the busy HaShalom railway station; also seen is Kirya (Ha-Yovel) Tower, with 28 of its 42 floors occupied by government offices, and the nearby Azrieli Sarona Tower, the tallest building in Tel Aviv – as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban.
Above: Enlarged: The Azrieli high-rise complex, adjacent to the Ministry of Defense and IDF’s GHQ, the trans-Tel Aviv AyalonHighway and the busy HaShalom railway station; also the Kirya(Ha-Yovel) Tower, with 28 of its 42 floors occupied by government offices, & the Azrieli Sarona Tower, the tallest building in Tel Aviv
Above: Tel Aviv skyline showing the luxury apartment complex Park Tsameret, adjacent to the trans Tel Aviv (Ayalon) highway and the busySavidor Central railway station – as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban
Above: Enlarged: North Tel Aviv skyline showing the luxury apartment complex Park Tsameret, adjacent to the trans Tel Aviv (Ayalon) highway and the busy Savidor Central railway station
Above: North Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak sky-line showing the Reading Power Station chimney, adjacent to the Tel Aviv Portrecreation area , and the 4 BSR Towers, which house many upmarket law firms, medical facilities, hi-tech offices and numerous busy restaurants– as seen from just east of the Palestinian-Arab villages of Rantis & Al-Lubban.
A Palestinian state? What could possibly go wrong?
So next someone tries to downplay the mortal risks entailed in establishing a Palestine state, they should be pressed to answer one question: Who do you believe – politically correct claptrap…or your own eyes!
@ Bear Klein:
I am indeed!
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Peres had also said at one time that a Palestinian State would be a threat to Israel. Are you aware that the Labor started many many of the settlements. Most of the Kibbutzim were aligned and part of the Labor movement including those past the Green Line.
@ Bear Klein:
I really think this bears more investigation. When was the book actually completed and sent to press? When did he start meeting with Sadat and Kreisky, etc? (Sadat came in Nov. 1977) When did he start talking differently?There is absolutely no way these two views can be reconciled in the same person at the same time unless he was crazy, had a split personality – a variation of crazy — or a deliberate systematic liar.
@ ms:
Seems like Peres was of two minds. The logic of defensive settlements and the weak personality who aspired to unrealistic peace deals with enemies who want to destroy the Jews in Israel. Because it was around 1978 that he spoke to us.
@ Bear Klein:
@ Bear Klein:
Shimon Peres on the Golan in “Tomorrow is Now”, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 48.
For original Hebrew see: http://www.strategic-israel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/PERES-TOODAY-TOMORROW-SCAN.pdf
@ yamit82:
I needed an inducement . Expect I don’t receive a notification of a ” follow up” so the future insults may go unanswered.
@ honeybee:
Took ya long enough to figure how to get back on Haaaaaaaaaaa
I think right now a Palis State is the least of our problems!!
Two more Russian topline Su-57 land in Syria to challenge US, Israeli air might
Government sources in Moscow reported Saturday, Feb. 24, that four fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 jet fighters are currently deployed in Syria after a second pair landed Friday. The first two arrived on Monday,
Russian lawmaker: Su-57 in Syria as “deterrent” for neighbors’ overflights
Mission Possible: Here’s What Those Russian Su-57 Jets May Be Doing in Syria
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
https://sputniknews.com/military/201802231061928859-su57s-in-syria-analysis/
The appearance of two Su-57 fighters at Syria’s Hmeymim Airbase, yet to be confirmed by the Russian MoD, has nevertheless got defense observers and armchair analysts alike talking. But what might the planes be doing there? Is their deployment strictly testing-related, or is it also meant to send a political message? Sputnik investigates.
@ yamit82:
My Dad use to spit every time heard the name Peres or Abba Ebon. upset Mother terribly.
@ Bear Klein:
Don’t get me started on Peres… He was a Lush, one night ran into him in Yaffo 3am and he was so drunk he fell next to his car. I picked him up helped him into his car and blasted him for his part in Sinai withdrawal, he looked at me glaseyed and mumbled like b’ement …. He was a pos then and only got worse afterward.
I think the Clintons learned from Peres how to enrich themselves by laundering money Peres created his PEACE Center and clintons their clones……. Peres died a very wealthy man and was never really audited or investigated for pay to play and launder money. How does any politician become a multi millionaire never having had a real civilian job in their lives??
@ yamit82:
When I lived on Afik (Golan) in the 70s Peres came to speak to some of us. We kept asking in different ways is it possible for the Golan to be given up. He kept dodging the questions. Finally when cornered he said something to the effect of anything is possible for peace. Meaning he was willing to deal the Golan away. What a disaster that would have been. Land, homes, and security in exchange for a future war with no security depth.
@ ms:
How far we have come: Mapai of early Peres was light years further to the right on security than the Likud under BB !!
Begin destroyed the ideological right when he agreed to “Camp David Accords”
Begin created the paradigm of “Land for peace” Peres at that time would never have agreed both because of internal Mapai opposition (which was considerable) but the then united ideological right would have blocked any such deal.
More Labor MK’s voted against “Camp David Accords than the then Likud under Begin…..When Labor sat to debate how they should vote …Peres put it to them bluntly Begin is not giving them an option of voting for part of the agreement and ejecting others it’s all or nothing… Peres sighed that we (Labor) had been had by Begin. I personally sat in that meeting and saw Labor MK’s cry real tears,like Shlomo Hillel and Shoshana Arbeli-Almozlino, they were more upset than most of Herut MK’s. Interesting bot those very powerful Labor MK’s were Iraqi Jews who understood the Arabs certainly better than their ashkenazi comrades .
Without strong Labor support Camp David accord would never have passed the Knesset vote in favor.
I met Both Peres and Begin in those days and my impression was Peres was always in favor his party less so and divided but Begin I met a few days before he left for camp David and he promised not to give in and I believed him….. Something happened to him there, whether his depression had influenced him, Dayan the snake, Weitzman or Carter (the weakest US President in modern times?) Upon return Begin refused to meet with anyone from the Yamit region reps. He always sent surrogates … For three years he refused to either come to sinai settlements face us and explain his duplicitous perfidy…..
Fact no labor government ever freely gave up and destroyed Jewish settlements for any reason before Begin.
Begin is responsible for the concept accepted not only by the world but by a majority of israelis of “Land for Peace” This has been the major cause for most of our internal and geopolitical weakened positions. It led to Madrid conference,Oslo agreements, Road map agreements, Wye Plantation conference, Yes Peres moved from Hawk to Dove but he was always at core a dove his political party and main competitors weren’t so he could never for much of his career come out of the closet so to speak and remain relevant in mapai and later the early Labor party…. Begin’s Treason allowed him to move incrementally to where he always was at core a dove…. Only a Peres could make an agreement in Lebanon after the Kana incident where Israeli troops could not attack Arab terrorist but they were free to attack us…..He made our position in southern lebanon untenable and indefensible with great loss of Israeli lives the result and the strengthening of Hezbollah.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State I
The establishment of such [a Palestinian] state means the inflow of combat ready Palestinian forces (more than 25,000 men under arms) into Judea and Samaria; this force, together with the local youth, will double itself in a short time. It will not be short of weapons or other [military] equipment, and in a short space of time, an infrastructure for waging war will be set up in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Israel will have problems in preserving day-to-day security, which may drive the country into war, or undermine the morale of its citizens. In time of war, the frontiers of the Palestinian state will constitute an excellent staging point for mobile forces to mount attacks on infrastructure installations vital for Israel’s existence, to impede the freedom of action of the Israeli airforce in the skies over Israel, and to cause bloodshed among the population… in areas adjacent to the frontier-line.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 232.
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State II
Even if the Palestinians agree that their state have no army or weapons, who can guarantee that a Palestinian army would not be mustered later to encamp at the gates of Jerusalem and the approaches to the lowlands? And if the Palestinian state would be unarmed, how would it block terrorist acts perpetrated by extremists, fundamentalists or irredentists?
Shimon Peres The New Middle East, New York: H. Holt, 1993, p.169
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State III
If a Palestinian state is established, it will be armed to the teeth. Within it there will be bases of the most extreme terrorist forces, who will be equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft shoulder-launched rockets, which will endanger not only random passers-by, but also every airplane and helicopter taking off in the skies of Israel and every vehicle traveling along the major traffic routes in the coastal plain. It is of course doubtful whether territorial expanse can provide absolute deterrence. However, the lack of minimal territorial expanse places a country in a position of an absolute lack of deterrence. This in itself constitutes almost compulsive temptation to attack Israel from all directions …
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 255.
Peres on the Strategic Military Importance of Territory
In 1948, it may have been possible to defend the “thin waist” of Israel’s most densely populated area, when the most formidable weapon used by both sides was the canon of limited mobility and limited fire-power… In the 20th century, with the development of the rapid mobility of armies, the defensive importance of territorial expanse has increased…Without a border which affords security, a country is doomed to destruction in war.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, pp. 235,254.
Peres on the Strategic Economic Importance of Territory
The resources available to a country are finite. In the absence of a strategic border, the investment in security that a country requires, comes at the expense of other needs. This difference in the level of investment in security creates in certain cases a qualitative change in the general level of a nation – in terms of its economy, its society and education… A country that has the advantage of a strategic frontier can invest less … in fortifications, maintenance of battle ready armed forces, armaments…
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 235
Peres on the Strategic Importance of Settlements
[We need] to create a continuous stretch of new settlements; to bolster Jerusalem and the surrounding hills, from the north, from the east, and from the south and from the west, by means of the establishment of townships, suburbs and villages – Ma’ale Edumin, Ofra, Gilo, Bet-El, Givon, and IDF camps and Nahal outposts – to ensure that the capital and its flanks are secured, and underpinned by urban and rural settlements. These settlements will be connected to the coastal plain and Jordan Valley by new lateral axis roads; the settlements along the Jordan River are intended to establish the Jordan River as the [Israel’s] de facto security border; however it is the settlements on the western slopes of the hills of Samaria and Judea which will deliver us from the curse of Israel’s “narrow waist”; the purpose of the settlements in the Golan is to ensure that this territorial platform will no longer constitute a danger, but a barrier against a surprise attack…
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter,1978, p. 48.
Peres on the Value of Agreements with the Arabs
The major issue is not [attaining] an agreement, but ensuring the actual implementation of the agreement in practice. The number of agreements which the Arabs have violated is no less than number which they have kept’.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 255
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State II
The establishment of such [a Palestinian] state means the inflow of combat ready Palestinian forces (more than 25,000 men under arms) into Judea and Samaria; this force, together with the local youth, will double itself in a short time. It will not be short of weapons or other [military] equipment, and in a short space of time, an infrastructure for waging war will be set up in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Israel will have problems in preserving day-to-day security, which may drive the country into war, or undermine the morale of its citizens. In time of war, the frontiers of the Palestinian state will constitute an excellent staging point for mobile forces to mount attacks on infrastructure installations vital for Israel’s existence, to impede the freedom of action of the Israeli airforce in the skies over Israel, and to cause bloodshed among the population… in areas adjacent to the frontier-line.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 232.
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State II
Even if the Palestinians agree that their state have no army or weapons, who can guarantee that a Palestinian army would not be mustered later to encamp at the gates of Jerusalem and the approaches to the lowlands? And if the Palestinian state would be unarmed, how would it block terrorist acts perpetrated by extremists, fundamentalists or irredentists?
Shimon Peres The New Middle East, New York: H. Holt, 1993, p.169
Peres on the Dangers of a Palestinian State III
If a Palestinian state is established, it will be armed to the teeth. Within it there will be bases of the most extreme terrorist forces, who will be equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft shoulder-launched rockets, which will endanger not only random passers-by, but also every airplane and helicopter taking off in the skies of Israel and every vehicle traveling along the major traffic routes in the coastal plain. It is of course doubtful whether territorial expanse can provide absolute deterrence. However, the lack of minimal territorial expanse places a country in a position of an absolute lack of deterrence. This in itself constitutes almost compulsive temptation to attack Israel from all directions …
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 255.
Peres on the Strategic Military Importance of Territory
In 1948, it may have been possible to defend the “thin waist” of Israel’s most densely populated area, when the most formidable weapon used by both sides was the canon of limited mobility and limited fire-power… In the 20th century, with the development of the rapid mobility of armies, the defensive importance of territorial expanse has increased…Without a border which affords security, a country is doomed to destruction in war.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, pp. 235,254.
Peres on the Strategic Economic Importance of Territory
The resources available to a country are finite. In the absence of a strategic border, the investment in security that a country requires, comes at the expense of other needs. This difference in the level of investment in security creates in certain cases a qualitative change in the general level of a nation – in terms of its economy, its society and education… A country that has the advantage of a strategic frontier can invest less … in fortifications, maintenance of battle ready armed forces, armaments…
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 235
Peres on the Strategic Importance of Settlements
[We need] to create a continuous stretch of new settlements; to bolster Jerusalem and the surrounding hills, from the north, from the east, and from the south and from the west, by means of the establishment of townships, suburbs and villages – Ma’ale Edumin, Ofra, Gilo, Bet-El, Givon, and IDF camps and Nahal outposts – to ensure that the capital and its flanks are secured, and underpinned by urban and rural settlements. These settlements will be connected to the coastal plain and Jordan Valley by new lateral axis roads; the settlements along the Jordan River are intended to establish the Jordan River as the [Israel’s] de facto security border; however it is the settlements on the western slopes of the hills of Samaria and Judea which will deliver us from the curse of Israel’s “narrow waist”; the purpose of the settlements in the Golan is to ensure that this territorial platform will no longer constitute a danger, but a barrier against a surprise attack…
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter,1978, p. 48.
Peres on the Value of Agreements with the Arabs
The major issue is not [attaining] an agreement, but ensuring the actual implementation of the agreement in practice. The number of agreements which the Arabs have violated is no less than number which they have kept’.
Shimon Peres, Tomorrow is Now, Jerusalem: Keter, 1978, p. 255
Correction: The Eidelberg (1979) in which he analyzes Sadat’s turning of Peres was published the year after the national camp style book written by Peres (1978 ( wonder in what month)). Sadat’s visit was November 21, 1977. The peace treaty was signed on March 26, 1979. Eidelberg is writing as a contemporary observer, a lone voice in the crowd. Wow! Nobody else saw it coming apparently. Most people still won’t admit to having been fooled.
Used Paperbacks starts at $1.60
https://www.amazon.com/Sadats-strategy-History-making-Eidelberg/dp/0969000103
John Kerry Solutions Inc. Israel Tour, February 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBXvrVgWToM
And now, in a replay of Sadat’s strategy, Qatar is courting American Jewish leaders. They have been giving Israel a hard time and Qatar senses an opening
It’s relevant to explore that uncharacteristic quote of Peres cited at the beginning of the article because this whole abuse of the justice system could never have happened before one whole side of Israel’s version of the two party system was corrupted as it was in America, where both opposing factions had been patriotic at one time.
The entrenched Left is trying to bring down Netanyahu the same way it is doing with Trump. This is a parallel development. I wonder even if the these forces are working with each other internationally and if this can be prosecuted as treason if its workings are exposed, Wikileaks are you out there?
It’s Quislings versus patriots. That’s what it’s about.
Sadat’s Strategy
https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SadatsStrategy_Eidelberg1.pdf
Free PDF, courtesy of Americans For a Safe Israel, co-founded by Israeli Founding Father and author of “Battleground, Fact and Fantasy in Palestine”, Shmuel Katz.
That quote was from page 12.
Sorry for the typo. The last three lines belonged on the top, when I saw they were missing, I copied them again from the article, not remembering they were still on the bottom where I mistakenly put that to begin with. Please ignore.
The next stage in that conflict, for Sadat, was the Jerusalem “peace
initiative.” In his Knesset speech he laid down the peace terms—
unacceptable to both of Israel’s major parties—from which he has never
since deviated: that Israel return to the borders of 1949 and set up a
Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza (including East Jerusalem).
Upon returning home, he said in an interview for October Magazine, “We
must take what we can get as a means for taking all that we want.”15 Those
who had followed Sadat’s earlier remarks prior to his trip could scarcely
be in doubt as to what he meant by “all that we want.”
Without in any way abandoning his long range goal, Sadat was able to
count major accomplishments from his trip to Jerusalem. Indeed Sadat
has managed to win the world’s accolades as a great peace-maker
without once using the word “peace” on his trip. He used in his speech
over and over again the word “salaam” which was translated as “peace”
but which means nothing more than non-belligerence. Salaam was
Sadat’s code message to the Arab world that he would never make Sulh,
that is, real peace, with Israel. Nonetheless Sadat was able to disarm and
divide Israel and neutralize the United States—remarkable accomplishments
indeed.
Recall how Sadat insisted on personal talks with the leaders of each of
Israel’s many political parties after his Knesset speech. His main target
was Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Party. Sadat invited
Peres to various meetings in Europe, the last in Salzburg under the
auspices of Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, whose hostile attitude
INTO THE FRAY: PERES ON ‘TOMORROW’ – YESTERDAY AND TODAY
The wildly irreconcilable positions of pre-Oslo and post-Oslo Peres raise troubling questions as to the integrity of Israeli leaders.