Page 42 - Signs of the End

6 THE SIGNS OF THE END

settlements, and will not allow the Jewish settlements to be
molested. The Israelis have all the heavy guns, tanks and so
forth, while the Palestinians only have a few rifles and rocks.
How can they be a threat to Israel's security?

Furthermore, the government sees great potential in the
agreement. If there is peace, there will be great opportunity for
development and prosperity. The Israelis can help the Palestin­
ians, and the other Arabs throughout the Middle East, with their
water use and conservation projects, and there could be consider­
able opportunity for foreign investment to flood into the entire
region.

REAL PROBLEMS

But with all the government's assurances and rose-colored
scenarios, there is much apprehension among a large percentage
of the Jewish population of Israel. They don't trust the Arabs;
they don't think the well-meaning Palestinians can control the
fanatical Moslem terrorists; they believe they are unnecessarily
exposing themselves to a disastrous strategic vulnerability; and
that, if the peace does not work and they have to use force
against the Palestinians, world opinion will not be sympathetic
to Israel.

Fate of Jewish Settlements in West Bank
(Judea, Samaria and Gaza)

The week we arrived in Israel w as the week the Knessett
(Parliament) voted on the peace agreement. In the days pre­
ceding that very close vote there was much political tension in
the air, and many demonstrations. On one day there was a kind
of huge prayer rally at the Western Wall. Thousands of Israelis
gathered at the Wall in order to pray for the nation. They were
also there to protest the peace agreement. It w as quite a sight.

Later that same day, after dark, there was a huge rally in the
rose garden area on the grounds of the Knessett. Depending on
who w as doing the reporting, it was estimated that there were
between 50,000 and 100,000 Israelis there to voice their protest
against the peace accord. There were many speeches by Likud