Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin declared: "We will not permit a situation where there is no calm and security in Israel, while there is calm and security in southern Lebanon. Our goal is to make this clear. We expect the Lebanese Government, and those backing it, to control the rockets fired by Hezbollah. . . If there will be no quiet and safety for the northern settlements, there will be no quiet and safety for south Lebanon residents north of the security zone." The "security zone" was Lebanese territory that had been occupied by Israel’s military for more than a decade. The Operation was a resounding "success." Israel’s shelling killed over a hundred civilians, and hundreds of thousands of others fled northward in panic.
In January, 2010, following the unsuccessful attempt of a Nigerian man to blow up a US-bound airliner on Christmas day, Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility and declared: "It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly . . . . Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel. . . . America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine."
To repeat, Rabin in 1993:
"We will not permit a situation where there is no calm and security in Israel, while there is calm and security in southern Lebanon. . . If there will be no quiet and safety for the northern settlements, there will be no quiet and safety for south Lebanon residents north of the security zone."
Bin Laden in 2010:
"It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly . . . America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine."
In response to bin Laden’s explanation for the Christmas incident, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David stated: "Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds."
This immediately raises the following questions. First, does bin Laden realize that if he is apprehended, he is likely to be extradited to Israel and face serious and irrefutable charges of plagiarism?
Second, can we expect to see in the near future the following article in the Israeli press:
