Why did al-Qaeda only start attacking Israeli targets in October 2002?
For decades, Osama has made clear his hatred of Israel, but he is a practical fighter. He has explained on a number of occasions that Bosnia and Israel are problematic for al-Qaeda because there is no Pakistan, no safe haven next door… He also views Israel as a Crusader outpost and America as the key to Islamist victory, so that has prevented him from devoting a great deal of resources in attacking Israel. One of the major debates between [captured al-Qaeda field commander] Abu Zubyada and Osama Bin Laden has been the orientation of al-Qaeda; Abu Zubyada wanted to shift focus to Israel. If Osama had shifted to Israel too early, he would have lost sight of the “far enemy.” He is still only 60 to 65 percent successful in focusing the Islamic movement’s attention on America, which is why we should kill him as soon as we can. With that forceful personality gone, there may be slippage: Algerians will go home to fight their government; the Egyptians will back to trying to assassinate Mubar
