Ex-IDF officer: Controversial policies make Israel safer

By Deborah Moon Seldner

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Taking the initiative through profiling, building a security fence, targeted assassination of terrorists and being a presence in the West Bank has made Israel a safer place, according to Israel Defense Force Col. Miri Eisen, retired.
Eisen addressed participants of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Israel Mission that began May 14. Earlier this year, she toured the United States on a Mothers for Peace tour with Palestinian Nonie Darwish, who spoke in Portland the week after Eisen addressed Oregonians in Israel (see article at bottom of page).
"Israelis went through five years of war—a war in our homes," said Eisen, noting that Israeli security has changed drastically since 2002.
"We do profiling," she said. "It has issues within a democracy, but it is most efficient. ? For us it is very nice, but I wouldn't want to be an Arab Israeli citizen."
Eisen said no military can eliminate terrorism, but Israeli security forces have reduced terrorism to the point that "Israelis are back in our normal lives."
"In 2006 we are not in a war zone anymore," said Eisen. "Security forces have put it (terrorism) in a place where it is livable."
Still, the years of terrorism have created a major issue of trust. And while Israel is now moving towards living side-by-side with a Palestinian state, it is "not like the hugs of the '90s," said Eisen.
Zvi Levran, who was the Portland group's guide during the 10-day mission, compared the new pragmatic separation from Palestinians to a divorce.
"How do we separate? How do we get on with life? How do we be sure we don't get screwed by the other?" he asked. "People on the left say putting up a fence won't solve the problem—we will have a festering sore on the other side. But the mainstream feels we tried negotiating and it didn't work."
Eisen said the Israeli and Palestinian visions of two states are different.
"We are talking about separation and strengthening ourselves for where we want to be in 50 years," she said. "It may be too much for Jews living around the world and it might not be enough for the other side ? (but) we are the ones living here."
Portlander Edith Dorsen said she felt Eisen's talk was "hopeful and sobering at the same time."
Dorsen's husband Michael said he thought Eisen "presented the political, demographic and security dilemmas very well."
Colleen Larson from Eugene said that Eisen "leant valuable insight into the views of Israelis and that their vision is changing."