A Fox News reporter on TV this morning described Netanya as an Israeli "village" "near the seam line," giving the impression that it's practically in the West Bank. Well, that's only a bit misleading. The West Bank town that the bomber came from is, in fact, only a few kilometers away. But Netanya is a beachfront community (and a bit large for a "village"). It has its back to the sea. Fox has inadvertantly pointed out, once again, just how indefensible the 1967 borders actually were.
Meanwhile Dr. Aaron Lerner at IMRA offers this commentary:
Israel Radio correspondents noted that it is expected that the bomber made his way to the mall through a crossing point in the separation fence. It should be noted that while some separation fence advocates genuinely believed that the fence would stop terror attacks that many of its supporters see the fence more as a device to ultimately bring about Israeli retreats in the West Bank while bypassing the need for public debate before the retreat lines are set. The fence hasn't stopped terror - Israeli security operations inside the West Bank have - operations that won't be possible after the retreat expected after the elections.
I'm thinking that's probably right. (The suicide mass murderer, by the way, was 18 years old.) Hey, and I'm still waiting for those disenagement dividends.
Meanwhile, it doesn't matter how many candidates Netanyahu pressures to drop out of the race for the Likud leadership. The party is on life support, and it needed fresh blood and a point man (or woman) with some integrity to bring it back. Bibi's not that man.
