A People's Army - a chance for peace

The barrage of rockets at Ashkelon, riots on the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem, violent clashes between Israeli regime forces and hundreds of young Palestinians, among them Jewish extremists, the surge in sentiment among Arab citizens of Israel – all of which are a testament to the explosive potential in Jerusalem that threatens stability and security beyond it. The messages concerned about the Arab world – including countries that have recently normalized relations with Israel – and from the wider world demonstrate the centrality of the city and the sensitivity to everything that takes place there, and require a prudent policy before damage to Israel's relations – political, economic, and even security – in the region and beyond. The Commanders' Movement, with its more than 300 members, all veterans of the security establishment at the highest levels, is convinced that Israel has the capability and power necessary to deal with any security challenge. However, the chain of events indicates that not every problem has a solution in the area of military might, and that wise political conduct can prevent a security deterioration. Against this backdrop, the Commanders Movement calls on the government to handle the event that unfolds with the sensitivity and wisdom of a complex city sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians around the world. The movement congratulates the Supreme Court on its wise decision to postpone its decision on the sheikh Jarrah issue, not to be exploited by extremists to whip up the winds at this high-risk moment. In the same spirit, the movement calls on the government to demonstrate responsibility, to demonstrate that sovereignty is not measured by the ability to generate provocations but in prudent governance, and to restrain insurers – whatever they may be – and to immediately distance them from the friction zones. Proper preparation of the Israeli police is always essential, but as has been shown today, it does not have the power to prevent friction, local flare-ups, and the exploitation of circumstances to undermine security beyond the city boundaries. Responsible national leadership is required to guide the security forces in this spirit, thereby contributing to calming the spirits and the inclusion of the event before escalating and claiming additional victims. The series of failures in a variety of areas experienced by the state in recent times requires a thorough examination of work assumptions and patterns of action. As it becomes clear again during these hours, this is especially true in the field of security. The morning after the event, the Israeli government will be required to draw lessons regarding three illusions that the event revealed in full force: The disillusionment with the illusion of relative quiet in Jerusalem, ignoring the explosive relations between Palestinians and Israelis in the city and the regional and international sensitivity to what is happening there, requires a fundamental change in the attitude regarding the needs of all religions and populations in the city and uncompromising adherence to the status quo in the holy places. The disillusionment with the illusion of differentiation between Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, including East Jerusalem – as if one of them does not affect the others – has repeatedly been paid by the residents of the envelop and the entire south, requires the formulation of an alternative strategy that will enlist a regional and international coalition for a combined process of establishing a ceasefire with the Gaza Strip, a comprehensive reconstruction and development plan for its population, and a gradual return of the Palestinian Authority to its management. Disillusionment with the illusion of stability between Israel and the Palestinians throughout the region requires formulating a strategy that meets Israel's security needs and will incorporate moves to create a political horizon (even if its implementation is far away), improving the quality of life of all life in israeli-controlled territories, reducing friction between Israelis and Palestinians, and thus contributing to stability on the ground and the chances of future separation between the two peoples. The Commanders' Movement has formulated practical plans for most of the issues whose explosiveness has been exposed in recent weeks and days. The movement provides the knowledge and experience of hundreds of its members, past senior figures in the IDF, the GSS, the Mossad and the Israel Police, the government, the security establishment and state officials

Commanders for Israel's Security