24 Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
and when the Palestinians finally realize they have squandered more than 75 years and numerous chances to build a state — alongside Israel , not in its place .
One oft-discussed aspect of Israel ’ s policy has been its defensive fence or security barrier in the West Bank .
Three things in particular should be kept in mind . First , the barrier , the initial segment of which was completed in 2003 , has not entirely eliminated terrorism , as deadly events in recent years underscore , but it has limited the ability of Palestinian terrorists to enter into Israeli population centers and create havoc . Second , the barrier was built only as a result of repeated terrorist activity — an estimated 25,000 attempted attacks against Israelis by Palestinian groups and individuals between 2000 and 2005 alone . And third , barriers can be moved , or even dismantled , but the lives of innocent victims of terror can never be regained .
Gaza has been a test case of Palestinian intentions .
Israel ’ s total disengagement from Gaza in 2005 , the brainchild of Prime Minister Sharon , not only provided a potential new start to the peace process , but also gave the Palestinians , under the leadership of Palestinian Authority president Abbas , an historic opportunity , the first in history , for self-governance . Would they begin to establish a peaceful civil society without the widespread corruption , violence , and anarchy so endemic in the past ? Or would Gaza end up as an essentially lawless area , hospitable primarily to terrorists and their friends ? Would the Palestinians aspire to build a model state living quietly alongside Israel , or would they use Gaza as a new platform for firing missiles and organizing attacks against neighboring Israel ?
Fast forward and , tragically , the answer is in . Abbas and his allies