JUNE 6 • 2024 | 9
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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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