If there were those among us who sought to understand what was behind the series of terrorist attacks being perpetrated in Israel, they would have found a partial explanation in a speech by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday night. Israel is unable to truly deter such attacks, and worse, it has no answer to the problem posed by this nationalist, anti-Semitic Arab leader who responds with contempt to the demand that he condemn the murderous attacks.
Abbas speaks like the leader of a terrorist organization and inciter of anti-Semitism that he is. At 82 years of age, he has only grown more radical in his views and has shown no interest in reconciliation or peace. The murders in Jerusalem and Samaria were carried out with the help of the European Union, the United Nations and left-wing Israeli organizations that take part in the international effort against Israel and the Jewish people. In their foolishness, Israelis react hysterically to the actions of the Poles, who want to be respected and not to be confused with the Germans – the same Germans now subsidizing the organizations U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to stop funding. First and foremost among these organizations is UNRWA, the U.N.'s aid agency for Palestinians. Is there any chance that American Jewry will come to its senses and listen to Abbas' words? I doubt it. They agree with him. If U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman legitimizes settlers, they say, must Abbas condemn murder? What we have here is a moral breakdown.
The Israeli government must be creative and ensure Abbas is personally punished. We must demand the German government cease its practice of increasing funding to Palestinians as compensation for cuts by the U.S. We must find a way to immediately cut the monetary funds from the PA's budget that go toward the families of murderers.
Unfortunately, there are very people with whom Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can confer as to how hard to come down on the Palestinians. The late Tourism Minister Maj. Gen. Rehavam Ze'evi is no longer around. Neither is former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh is busy fighting other enemies. In his political surroundings, the only credible person with knowledge on the subject is MK Avi Dichter, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The ongoing chatter about the death penalty is nothing more than escapism. At the same time, military activity in the villages of the terrorists does not need to be sterile or accompanied by legal counsel.
Israel can demand that the EU stop funding those same nongovernmental organizations with ties to the terrorist organization known as the PA. These organizations concern themselves only with the dissemination of hatred of Israel and the Jews inside Europe. Abbas and the murderers he cultivates do as they like because they are never made to pay a price for their actions. The government must get itself together and find a technique that will ensure that the Palestinians pay the full price for their actions.
