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312 St at em ent i n t he Knesset by D ef ense M i ni st er R

312 Statement in the Knesset by Defense Minister Rabin- 23 December 1987

23 Dec 1987

VOLUME 9-10: 1984-1988

312. Statement in the Knesset by Defense Minister Rabin, 23 December 1987.

The Defense Minister was in Washington when the uprising b egan, where he and U.S. Defense Secretary Carlucci signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense issues valid for ten years. Upon his return to Israel he addressed the Knesset two weeks after the uprising's onset. He claimed that while the uprising was the result of spontaneous organization, the PLO seized on the wave of this event in order to heighten and intensify the events. He then outlined the orders issued to the IDF on how to deal with the uprising. By 23 Decemb er, 21 Arab s were killed and 158 wounded 31 IDF and Border Guard soldiers were wounded. He was aware of the unfavourab le image Israel was receiving in the world media, b ut felt that the order of the day was to prevent and comb at the violence "with all the means at our disposal within the framework of the law. " Text: For the past two weeks, we have been facing a continuous series of civil disorders, exceptional in their scope, force and intensity in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza District. At week's end, these grave events spread to Jerusalem, and two days ago, Israeli Arabs also joined the violent disorders. It is my hope that this was an exceptional event not to be repeated. We have already experienced disturbances and terrorist attacks in the past. However, one cannot ignore the unusual severity of the events of the past two weeks - both from the viewpoint of the large number of Arab residents who took part in some of the events, the scope of events throughout the area, and the extent of the continuity and duration of these events, which indeed have yet to end. The tension and intense alertness in the field have not yet faded away: the atmosphere still enables the small number of extremists to incite and to draw the masses into additional riots. This is not the time or the place to enter into an analysis and assessment of the general circumstances and the specific reasons which formed the background to the outburst of the violent and unusual series of events such as we have not seen for many years. We must face this phenomenon with our eyes wide open - to recognize the fact of its existence and to find the suitable ways to end it now and prevent its recurrence in the future, with the goal of providing security for all residents. All Israeli governments, without exception, have determined that the legal and political status of the area of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District will not be subject to a unilateral and decisive Israeli act. This is in order to prove our desire for peace on our eastern border as well: peace that will be obtained through direct bilateral negotiations with Jordan and the Palestinian residents in the territories who are not identified as PLO personnel. We will not hold negotiations with the PLO terrorist organization.

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Since the end of the Six Day War, the territories have been under military rule through a Military Government and a Civil Administration. The policies which are carried out by the government are interwoven: an all-out war against PLO terrorism on the one hand, while maintaining public law and order for all residents, and, on the other hand, providing assistance to improve the quality of life for all those who want to live in peace. The violent public disorders during the past two weeks broke out against a backdrop of local events, and were the fruits of spontaneous organization. The PLO terrorist organizations and activists in the territories seized on this wave of events and did everything they could, both inside and outside the territories, in order to heighten and intensify the events. The Arab media, particularly those of the extremist Arab states, were filled with calls to residents of the territories to violate law and order violently and acutely. The Arab press in East Jerusalem was full of incitement, direct and indirect, to continue the demonstrations. The standing of the Palestinian terrorist organizations were badly damaged in the Arab world and the international community as a result of the resolutions passed at the Arab summit conference in Amman. These resolutions signalled the Arab world, and the entire world, that the priorities of the majority in the Arab world are preventing the spread of Islamic extremism of a Khomeinist stripe, and the continuation of the Iran-Iraq war. Based on the resolutions made at the Amman summit conference, handling of a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict was downgraded on the scale of priorities. One can add to the failure of the PLO terrorist organizations and their goal of increasing terrorist activity against Israel prior to the summit and during its meeting. For the terrorist organizations and their leaders, the events that took place in the past two weeks were like a life line for their pan-Arab and international standing. The PLO therefore made exceptional efforts to incite and organize continued violent public disorders. In the face of this, Israel is determined to prevent violent public disorders and to increase activity against PLO terrorist elements wherever they are found. This mission is assigned to IDF forces, the Border Police, and the other security arms. The objective of the overall activity of these forces is to make unequivocally clear, both in words and in deeds, to the residents of the territories, the Arab states, and the international community that the path leading to war, threats of war, terror and violent public disorder will achieve nothing. To the contrary, the continuation of violent public disorder and terror will cause suffering, pain and hardships for those who initiate or are involved in the disorders. Gaza and Hebron, Ramallah and Nablus are not and will not become Beirut, Sidon and Tyre. Here we will fight united in all our strength - and it is substantial - against any element that attempts through violence to undermine our complete rule in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza District. Peace on our eastern border and we all want this - will be achieved only at the negotiating table with Jordan and residents of the territories. With the aim of bringing about calm in the territories and restoring a sense of security for all the residents living there, the security forces are acting with all the means at our disposal within the framework of, and subject to, the law. In accordance with this, security forces will apply all the means and methods against the inciters, the organizers, and those participating in the violent disorders. I want to note some of the principal directives which exist for the IDF and the other security arms acting in the territories. 1. A concentration of large forces, as deemed necessary by the IDF command at any given time. 2. Activating relatively large forces against a violent disturbance as promptly
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as possible, with the goal of aborting it. 3. While dealing with violent public disorders - to warn those who are disturbing the peace and allow them to disperse peacefully. If there is no response to the warning, to employ in the first stage means such as tear gas and rubber bullets fired by the guns of IDF soldiers. And if these, too, cannot disperse a violent demonstration, and rioters are endangering IDF soldiers and Border Police in carrying out their missions, they are permitted to fire with the intention of wounding those leading the riots and throwing petrol bombs, initially at their legs, as far as this is possible, and this only after shots in the air have also failed to disperse the rioters. As defense minister, I am responsible for the lives and well-being of IDF soldiers and the Border Police acting alongside them. It is my obligation to provide them with the ability to defend themselves while carrying out the missions they have been charged with, including the use of their weapons with intent to wound those attempting to strike at their lives and their wellbeing. 4. There are no restrictions on the military commanders responsible for Judea, Samaria and Gaza concerning implementation of the punishment of deportation and administrative detention against the inciters and the organizers of the violent disturbances and the terrorism. This, subject to the limitations of the legal procedures prescribed by law. There are no restrictions on the O/C's of Southern and Central Commands to impose curfew for a defined period in order to prevent a violent disturbance or for any action required to maintain public law and order. In accordance with the existing regulations, greater freedom will be permitted for closing institutions which serve as hothouses for incitement to terrorism and disruption of the public order, such as educational institutions and others. At the same time, we will give full assistance to all those in the territories who wish to continue pursuing a normal life [there], and those who wish to leave for work in Israel. I know that the depictions of the events in the territories, as these have found expression in the foreign media, are not contributing to Israel's image in many countries. Nevertheless, I am convinced that beyond the temporary problem of our image, the supreme duty incumbent upon the government, the defense establishment and the forces of the IDF, is to combat the violence in the territories and prevent it with all the means at our disposal within the framework of the law. This we shall do, and I am convinced that we shall be successful. I want to say a few words to the Israeli Arabs. In the course of a generation you have passed the test of loyalty to the State of Israel, and with the exception of isolated and exceptional cases, you were unblemished. You were and you are part of us. I permit myself to propose to you not to be dragged after incitement, not to be tempted by calls to do harm and to demonstrate, and to remain as you have been until now: loyal, and leading a tranquil life. In the remote past you knew a tragedy, and it will be best for you and for us if you do not revert to it or repeat it. Even at this hour I find it needful as well as my duty to appeal to the Palestinian inhabitants in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, not to be tempted by the incitement of the leaders of the PLO terrorist organization. Your leaders, from the Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini to Arafat, have led you from one disaster to another. Every time you followed them you encountered failures in which you, more than others, were the chief victims. In the events to date 21 Arab residents have been killed and 158 wounded. Your life has been disrupted. In addition, 31 IDF soldiers and Border Policemen have been wounded, as well as 19 Israeli civilians. You will achieve nothing through violence and terrorism. You have no chance of coping in this manner with the Israel Defense Forces and the other security forces. The only way for a solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and within that
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framework, a solution of the Palestinian problem, is via negotiations for peace. Members of the Knesset, I wish to express from this rostrum my esteem and appreciation to the soldiers and officers of the IDF, the Israel Police, the Border Police and the other security branches which are operating on behalf of the government to prevent violence wherever it may be found, and to maintain the law, security and order for all the inhabitants of the territories, Jerusalem and Israel. I call for a joint and united stand behind the IDF and the security forces in their mission. Let us strengthen them in the activity for their success, the success of us all.

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