This Week
The Terror Is Here
Attacks in New York, Washington could affect U.S.-Israeli relationship.
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
Out Of
The Rubble
DAVID LANDAU
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jerusalem
srael's civilian and military authori-
ties swung into full alert after the
errorism, a part of everyday life
magnitude of the terror attacks
in Israel for decades, exploded
against
the United States became appar-
in the face of a complacent
ent.
America on Tuesday with the
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sum-
twin terror attacks that leveled New York's
moned
an emergency session of the
World Trade Center and left a gaping,
Security
Cabinet on Tuesday, together
charred hole in the Pentagon outside
with key defense and security personnel.
Washington.
The country's air space was closed to
The attacks, with a death toll that may take
foreign aircraft, and other measures
weeks to add up, could have huge implica-
apparently were taken that were not pub-
tions for a U.S.-Israel relationship that some
licized. Abroad, Israeli embassies and
may blame for provoking the terrorists.
trade and diplomatic missions were
The catastrophic bombings will also
ordered to close, or were reduced to skele-
plunge Jewish groups — which have tried
ton staffs.
to warn policymakers about the rising tide
Beyond the emergency measures and
of terrorism — into a fierce debate over the
the
wave of shock and sympathy that
proper balance between terror preparedness
swept
the nation, analysts predicted sever-
and protecting civil liberties.
al
potential
implications for the Jewish
"This was a huge intelligence failure,"
state:
said Shoshana Bryen, special projects direc-
• The attacks on New York and
tor for the Jewish Institute for National
Washington
would bring home to an apa-
Security Affairs (JINSA). "After past inci-
thetic
world
the
real meaning of terrorism
dents, we've retreated into a 'fortress
--
which
Israelis
have understood for years
America' mentality. We won't be able to do
.----, and perhaps would create greater sym-
that any more. The first step in fighting ter-
pathy for Israeli counterterroristh efforts.
rorism is to believe it can happen to you."
Terror "is the No. I enemy of
For complacent Americans, that hap-
mankind,"
Foreign Minister Shimon
pened with Tuesday's unrelenting scenes of An aircraft, at right, is seen as it is about to fly into the World Trade
Peres
said.
"It is a threat to humanity."
Center in New York in this image made from television on Sept. 11.
horror.
Peres
voiced
his confidence that the
The aircraft was the second to crash into the complex Tuesday morning.
At press time, U.S. officials had not iden-
United
States
would know how to count-
tified likely perpetrators, but there was wide-
er
the
threat.
"The
account must be ren-
spread speculation that the attack was relat-
blame America's friends and allies; it was a very anxious
dered, to state after state, without mercy,
ed to the Middle East conflict, possibly through the terror
moment for Israel when the Arabs made it clear they were
until this is eradicated," he said.
network of Saudi exile Osama Bin Laden. A Boston
boycotting American because of its support for Israel."
• Anxiety that any American response,
newspaper reported that five Arab men had been identi-
But the nation's leaders held firm, he said. "The
when
it comes, could somehow involve
fied as suspects in that city, the departure point for the
American government stood by its friend and ally, and
Israel.
Just as the U.S.-led coalition
two commercial airliners that slammed into the World
said: nobody can tell us who our friends should be,
against Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf
Trade Center.
nobody can blackmail us."
War led to Iraqi Scud missile attacks
Making sure that message penetrates the anger and
against Israel, Israelis worried this week
`They Would Still Hate Us'
anxiety most Americans feel in the wake of the terror
that countries targeted by Washington, or
If the Mideast connection is proved, it could have varied
onslaught will be a top challenge for Jewish leaders in
countries sympathetic with those target-
repercussions for U.S. relations with Israel and involve-
the difficult days ahead, Foxman said.
ed, would hit back at the Jewish state.
ment in that part of the world, Jewish leaders say.
David Harris, executive director of the American
• A political assessment that in the
"There is a danger of people saying, cif we didn't sup-
Jewish Committee, said an even bigger challenge will be
wake
of this cataclysmic event, American
port Israel, those people would have no reason to dislike
preparing the American people for "certain changes in
sympathies
and perhaps other Western
us,"' Bryen said. "We have to make the case that that's
our way of life in order to mount a sustained and credi-
opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
not true; they don't like us because of who we are. One
ble defense against terrorism." Harris, whose group has
could tilt in Israel's favor.
thing Americans need to know is that the same people
focused heavily on the fight against terror in recent
Bolstering this assessment were the
who hate Israel hate us and hate all democracies. If there
years, said Israel has a lot to offer traumatized
demonstrations
of glee and gratification
was no Israel, they would still hate us."
Americans about how to live under the terrorist threat.
among
Palestinians,
both in the West Bank
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-
The first lesson from Israel, he said, "is that there is no
and
in
refugee
camps
in Lebanon. These
Defamation League, said that while some Americans will
substitute for solid intelligence — human and other. And
manifestations were quickly picked up by
blame the strong U.S.-Israel relationship for the disaster,
we have to understand this is a permanent war; it ebbs
international media and could discredit
history suggests that the nation will reject that argument.
and flows, but it goes on, and it's dirty." Constant vigi-
the. Palestinians in American opinion. Li
"The last time it happened was during the oil embargo
TERROR on page 23
in the 1970s," he said. "There were those who tried to
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