Stats Show Anti-Terrorism Fence Highly Effective
The anti-terrorism fence being built between Israel and the West Bank is saving lives every single day, MA’ARIV reported. Security sources note that a close examination of the statistics of terrorist attacks in the northern West Bank prior to the construction of the fence there, and similar stats following the completion of the fence shows a sharp decrease in terrorist activity. From August 2003 to June 30, 2004, terrorists operating from the northern West Bank managed to carry out three suicide attacks inside Israel, killing 26 Israelis and wounding 76.
Meanwhile, in the 34 months since the beginning of Palestinian violence, the terror infrastructure in the northern West Bank succeeded in carrying out 73 attacks, in which 293 Israelis were killed and 1,950 were wounded. Since the fence’s erection, an approximate 90 percent decrease in the number of successful terror attacks was registered. A sharp drop of approximately 70 percent was also recorded in the number of casualties resulting from terror attacks, from an average of 103 Israelis murdered a year prior to its construction, down to 28 the year following the completion of the northern section. In addition, the fence has enabled the thwarting of dozens of attacks.
Car thefts in Israel has also decreased by 90%. Interesting.
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Catholic Church Equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism
The Catholic Church condemned anti-Zionism as a cover for anti-Semitism in a joint statement issued by a forum of Catholic-Jewish intellectuals this week, HA’ARETZ reported. The announcement was made at a gathering of religious, academic and other leading Jewish and Catholic figures in Buenos Aires. “We oppose anti-Semitism in any way and form, including anti-Zionism that has become of late a manifestation of anti-Semitism,” the statement said.
This is the first time that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism have been equated by the Catholic Church. The statement also includes a stern condemnation of terrorism, particularly terror in the name of faith.
Ilan Steinberg, director of the World Jewish Congress, one of the forum’s organizers, described the joint statement as “an historic moment.” “For the first time, the Catholic Church recognizes in anti-Zionism an attack not only against Jews, but against the whole Jewish people.” Senior Jewish figures called the announcement a significant, public statement of support by the Catholic Church in the face of anti-Zionism.