Israeli Officer Says Intifadah Is Going Strong

By Gad Li'or. Translated from Yediot Ahronot, July 10, 1988.

An official in the Israeli Ministry on Foreign Affairs, who has just returned from reserve duty in Gaza, claims that only 10 percent of the events in the occupied territories come to the attention of the public.

"The most severe and violent events do not reach the public at all," he said. "Not only is the intifadah not being quenched, but violent events are becoming more and more common."

He made this statement on Friday (July 8) at a ministry meeting, after spending 62 days as a company commander in the Gaza Strip. Other ministry officials said his statement "described the real war."

"I myself was a witness," the official said. "I witnessed dozens of violent events which were not reported."

No Sign of Calm

Among other things, the officer reported that the intifadah is continuing at full strength, and that there are no signs whatsoever of calm in the area, contrary to all kinds of government declarations and announcements.

"The public only knows about 10 percent of it," he said. The officer also claimed that countermeasures used by the Israeli army have only a partial and not very significant effect, especially on those who are under 15 years of age.

"This is the group that carries the intifadah on its back, and this is the group that is barely influenced by our measures. They are also the ones that determine how the older people will behave.

"The use of gas and rubber bullets is no longer effective, since the rubber bullets are effective only from distances of three to 15 meters."

The prime minister's office has been caught in an awkward position by the officer's statement. The fact that a person who has served in the reserves could make such a report, which is then leaked to the press, is being investigated. It was claimed by that office yesterday that it has been put in an impossible situation. The same ministry that is mandated with explaining to the world Israeli policy in the occupied territories has now leaked a report which describes Israeli policy there as futile.

The above article from the Israeli press was translated by Dr. Israel Shahak, an Israeli peace activist who regularly issues a file of translations from the Hebrew press. Persons interested in receiving Dr Shahak's translations on a regular basis are invited to telephone or write Kathy Spillman Abukhalil at the American Educational Trust. When we have an indication of the number of people in North America interested, we will be able to quote an annual subscription rate.