Should the U.S. Military in Iraq Adopt Israeli Methods?
The Associated Press reported on September 18 that an Israeli military official declared that the U.S. military is showing interest in Israeli software instructing soldiers on how to behave in the West Bank and Gaza. The United States is looking at the Israeli policies as examples of how American soldiers can better handle a hostile population in Iraq. That may not be the perfect recipe for peace in the American-occupied territory. The Israelis are justifiably anxious to protect themselves from the torrent of murderous suicide bombers. While some Israeli policies may reduce short-term casualties among Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), other Israeli policies stir up hostility that can help inflame Palestinians. The IDF has sought to tightly control Palestinian activity. Uri Savir, the chief Israeli negotiator for the Oslo accords between the Palestinians and the Israeli government, noted that before the 1993 agreement a West Bank Palestinian could not build, work, study, purchase land, grow
