The number of deaths by terror is down significantly, again, in the past year. What’s different this year?
The fence. Although Ha’aretz thinks there are other significant factors involved. (Actually, I’m agreeing with that.)
Factors contributing to the decrease in violence include the continued construction of the West Bank separation fence, the implementation of the disengagement plan and the calm that most of the Palestinian organizations have declared, a Haaretz investigation has found.
Since September 29, 2004, 425 Palestinians have been killed in the intifada, an average of 35 a month. In that time, 56 Israelis and foreigners have been killed, an average of five fatalities a month.
In the fourth year of the intifada, by contrast, an average of 11 people a month were killed on the Israeli side. The second, and most violent, year of the intifada saw an average of 36 deaths a month on the Israeli side and 88 on the Palestinian side.
[…] There have been six suicide bombings in the past year, killing 14 Israelis. Since September 2004, Palestinians have also fired about 1,450 mortar shells and Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip.
[…] Since the intifada began, 144 suicide bombings having been carried out in Israel, according to the defense establishment. Some 515 IDF soldiers, Israeli civilians, foreigners and Palestinians have been killed in these attacks, and another 3,300 have been hurt. In the past year, only six such attacks have been carried out, four of which were within the Green Line. Therefore, only 25% of the Israelis killed this past year died in suicide bombings.
According to IDF figures, the number of terror attacks and violent incidents in general – including the firing of mortar shells, rockets, anti-tank missiles and grenades, and stabbing – this year was the lowest since fighting commenced five years ago.
Of course, next year’s statistics will not include attacks on Jews in Gaza. The larger question is: What will the statistics be like a year from now?
Finish the fence, and they’ll keep improving.
As usual Ha’aretz (El Ard in Arabic) is wrong. The fence combined with the Israeli counter terror measures (arrests, assasinations, etc.) is what does the trick. Paleos are not interested in any Israeli “gestures” only in that which weakens Israel. Soemtimes I wonder what world the Ha’aretz writers live in. Let’s not forget all the planned attacks that were foield by the GSS and IDF.