Deterrence has two prerequisites: (1) overwhelming military power, and (2) the will to use it ruthlessly.
Israel has the power, but the leaders of Israel’s government lack the will. By the “government” we mean the political and military echelons.
Apart from obtaining crucial information, Israel’s security forces should eliminate any apprehended Arab terrorist. Even former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, when asked what should be done to terrorists, replied: “Kill them!”
Deterrence will also be improved on the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv when the IDF mission in Gaza is to completely eliminate any vestige of terrorist groups, such as Hamas. The policy of “self-restraint” should be limited to children.
Arab rock-throwers should be charged with the crime of attempted murder. By being lenient with minor offenses, the government only encourages major offenses. It was by applying this commonsense teaching that former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani drastically curtailed crime in that multi-ethnic city. Arabs need to know that they will no longer be mollycoddled, indeed, that the standards of civilized behavior will be applied to them as to any other citizen of Israel. To do otherwise is tantamount to racism!
Therefore, any Arab citizen of Israel who aids or abets Arab terror attacks should be stripped of his citizenship and of all benefits accruing to Israeli citizens.
Arab students in Israeli colleges and universities who engage in demonstrations in support of any terrorist organization, or who call for Israel’s destruction, will forfeit his student status and emoluments and be subject to criminal prosecution.
It should be known to Arab citizens of Israel that any Arab that perpetrates or aids a terrorist attack against any citizen of Israel, whether the latter is Jewish or non-Jewish, will forfeit his or her home. And if that home was used as a haven for any terrorist, it will be destroyed.
Further, if the Palestinian Authority encourages Arabs to commit acts of terror against the State of Israel or any of its Jewish or non-Jewish citizens, it will forfeit any and all tax and other privileges it enjoys under Israel law.