October 24, 2008:
Israel has found that amnesty deals are an
increasingly effective way to dismantle terrorist organizations. Last year, a
deal was made with the Al-Aqsa brigade, one of the major Palestinian terrorist
organizations, and hundreds accepted amnesty. The terms included cash payments
(of $15,000 or more) to members who accepted, as well as offers of jobs or job
training. Some of those who were guilty of the worst crimes had to agree to
spending their nights in jail for months. But the offer attracted 270 members,
about 20 percent of them actively being sought by Israeli police. A hard core
of the group refused to surrender, but because so many have surrendered, the
police have an easier time tracking down the holdouts.
Israel has noted that many Islamic
terrorists, like common criminals, grow out of their violent ways. Some want to
get married, but others lose heart. Palestinians have been using terror against
Israel for over four decades. Israel is still there, apparently undiminished by
all the terrorists efforts. Amnesty offers, if carefully crafted and carried
out, can accelerate this process.
There are still thousands of
Palestinians involved in terrorist activity, especially in Gaza. Here, Hamas
actively encourages terrorism as a way to destroy Israel. Most Palestinians say
they believe this is still a goal they favor. But throughout the Arab world,
terrorism has sharply declined in popularity. The spectacular al Qaeda defeat
in Iraq played a large role, as did the failed al Qaeda attempts to use terror
in places like Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan. The Palestinians are feeling
more isolated than usual. Then there is the Arab Reform Movement, which is
calling for reforms in the Arab world, and recognition that the biggest
problems in the Arab world are caused by internal issues. For decades, Arabs
blamed external forces (past colonialism, the CIA, Western culture in general)
for their lack of economic progress and good government. Change is in the air,
and an amnesty to enable active terrorists to try another solution is a growing
trend.