Since the Jewish settlement of Israel was established in 1948, the nation has been a land torn asunder by war and terrorism. David Roet, the Deputy Consul General for the State of Israel, spoke yesterday morning in an effort to shed some light on the situation.
Roet spoke to a small crowd in a Fitzgerald Hall. Topics ranged from terrorism, Yasser Arafat, Iraq, U.S. relations and everyday life in Israel, but began with the peace process with Palestine.
“Israel does not see a military solution,” Roet said. “Nobody thinks we will convince Palestinians they do not want a state.”
He noted events following the Passover Massacre last March, when 27 Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks, as the reason for action and occupation. Since that time, the Israeli Army has occupied certain Palestinian lands, been more stringent at checkpoints and has raided Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat’s, compound.
“After entering the compound, we found that Arafat has played a major part,” Roet said in an interview after the speech.
However, he later admitted that he does not think Arafat has the control he used to, and that a change in leadership is needed for effective peace negotiations to begin. Questions, though, arise as to who will fill his shoes when, or if, he steps down.
Roet reported that the leaders of Hammas and Jihad, two known terrorist organizations, could fight for control of the territories. There are also warlords throughout Palestinian territories who may start a civil war among their people to take control.
“There is no (Alexander) Hamilton or (Thomas) Jefferson willing to take power in Palestine,” Roet said.
He did note that there are some moderate people under Arafat, who are not as extreme.
A change in power may also be in store for Israel. The nation will shortly elect its prime minister, and the frontrunners seem to be the incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who came into power two years ago, and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Roet noted, though, that Israeli politics changes from one day to the next and the true fate of the country is unknown.
“We want to see a 100 percent effort by Palestinians to stop terrorism,” Roet said, noting that military occupation will end as soon as Palestine takes the first step. He did acknowledge, though, that “necessary, painful concessions,” referring to closing settlements and forfeiting lands, are needed for peace to work.
He said everyday life in Israel is full of life-and-death decisions.
“It is a day-to-day struggle,” Roet said. “If one has children, he or she must make the decision to make them take the bus to school, or drive them, but risk the chance of losing their job because they are constantly late (if parents drive).”
This is in reference to the high frequency with which passengers of buses are victims of suicide bombers. The bus system is an intricate part of transportation in Israel, and they have become easy targets for terrorists. Other aspects of life, which Americans take for granted, are also susceptible to violence. Nightclubs, hotels, diners and religious ceremonies have become targets, as well.
Matt Love, a Saint Louis University student, experienced this up close two years ago in a trip to Tel Aviv. While visiting family, a caf? that Love had visited regularly on his trip was bombed while he was there.
“It’s good to get the issue back into discussion,” Love said. “It has been overshadowed by the election and situation with Iraq.”
Roet was born in Jerusalem but spent part of his life in the United States before working for Israel in Seoul and later in Southeast Asia, working to improve the image of Israel to Muslims living in the region (Indonesia has one of the highest population of Muslims in the world). Roet is now based in Chicago.
