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bated by a deep suspicion 
of Palestinians. On Oct. 7, 
it wasn’t just Hamas and 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad oper-
atives who entered kibbutzim 
to rob and take hostages, but 
also Gazan civilians. Israelis 
recall images of jubilant 
crowds manhandling the 
bodies of hostages in vans 
or the testimonies of freed 
hostages recounting how they 
were held and tortured in the 
homes of Gaza residents.
Moreover, a survey by the 
Palestinian Center for Policy 
and Polling found that 72% of 
Palestinians consider Hamas’ 
decision to attack on Oct. 7 
to be justified; this support 
rises to 82% in the West Bank. 
The leaders of Fatah and the 
Palestinian Authority have not 
condemned Hamas for the 
massacre, nor questioned its 
legitimacy as a movement. 
The Israeli public also notes 
that the Palestinian Authority 
continues its sinister “pay 
for slay” program, allocating 
7% of its annual budget to 
the “Martyrs’ Fund,
” which 
pays monthly stipends to 
Palestinian terrorists impris-
oned in Israel, as well as to the 
families of terrorists killed in 
attacks. Terrorists involved in 
the Oct. 7 attacks are in the 
process of receiving payments.
When Western leaders 
speak about the situation 
between Israel and the 
Palestinians, they must avoid 
repeating the same mantras 
and hackneyed formulas. 
Yes, they have every right to 
tell Israel that the situation 
in the West Bank is unsus-
tainable and will ultimately 
increase Israel’s insecurity. 
Yes, they have the right to tell 
the Israelis that the violence 
of a minority of settlers is 
unacceptable. Yes, they can 
condemn the irresponsible 
statements of extremist poli-
ticians, whom many in Israel 

condemn as well. And they 
must also continue to remind 
people that compromise is 
necessary, not only for peace-
ful coexistence but also to pre-
serve Israel’s democratic and 
Jewish identity.
But international dis-
course must stop overlooking 
Palestinian misdeeds while 
disproportionately criticizing 
every Israeli action.
Palestinians are not passive 
victims without agency. The 
corruption, incitement to 
hatred and violence in schools 
and the official media, the 
inability to accept compro-
mise, the lawfare, and the 
perpetuation and glorification 
of martyrdom and victimhood 
must end.
Finally, those same leaders 
must realize that their support 
for UNRWA runs counter to 
any policy of advancing peace. 
UNRWA perpetuates the con-
flict, maintains Palestinians in 
a status they should long have 
surpassed and promotes the 
idea of a Palestine “from the 
river to the sea.
” 
It’s hardly surprising that 
since Oct. 7, a great deal of 
evidence has emerged reveal-
ing links between some of 
the organization’s employees 
and terrorist organizations in 
Gaza. In fact, the structural 
problems within the organi-
zation have been consciously 
ignored for decades.
For everyone who truly 
wants peace and believes that 
both Israelis and Palestinians 
have the right to self-determi-
nation and to live in dignity, 
Oct. 7 should serve as a wake-
up call. It should compel each 
and every one of us to con-
front the realities that have led 
us to this point. And it should 
be a moment to view things 
differently. 

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen is 

managing director of American 

Jewish Committee.

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