Palestinian self-destruction
On Friday, a 13-month-old Palestinian girl was killed by shrapnel in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. Hamas blamed Israel for the death. But according to locals, the deadly explosion occurred when a Palestinian rocket aimed at Israel went off course and blew up the victim’s house. By the time the weekend was over, dozens more Palestinians would be killed — as well as two Israeli soldiers — as Israel waged an air and ground campaign against Palestinian rocket crews and their Hamas enablers.
On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel for “excessive and disproportionate” use of force. We reject that censure of Israeli actions, as should leaders of all civilized nations. No nation on Earth would sit back passively as a neighboring territory bombarded its cities with rockets.
The situation of the Palestinians is a gruesome tragedy. But insofar as post-occupation Gaza is concerned, it is entirely self-inflicted. When Hamas, or whoever else takes over Gaza in coming years, decides to stop using the Palestinian people as one collective suicide bomber, they will find a willing peace partner in Israel. Until then, the Palestinian blood that flows won’t stain Israeli hands.
