Myths & Facts Online:

Online Exclusives

By Mitchell G. Bard

This section contains exclusive Myths & Facts added on a weekly basis that follow up-to-date news from the region.
For Archived Online Exclusives (2000-2011): CLICK HERE

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INDEX OF MYTHS:

- "Gaza does not receive necessary humaitarian supplies due to Israel's blockade."
- "The 'Flotilla 2' is intended solely to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
- "The United Nations repudiated the claim that Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza is legal."
- "A Unilateral Declaration of Independence is the Palestinians’ only avenue to advance the Peace Process."
- "Palestinian leaders claim that the future Palestinian state will welcome Jews and Israelis."
- "Mahmoud Abbas is working toward reaching peace with Israel."
- "Time is not on Iran's side vis-a-vis its acquiring the atomic bomb."
- "Due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel's economy has been suffering."
- "Of the Palestinian prisoners released in the Shalit deal, most who have spoken out say they will renounce terror."
- "Israel's proposed rebuilding of the Mugrabi Gate leading to the Temple Mount is an act of religious war."
- "The Palestinian leadership wants to normalize ties with Israel."
- "The Palestinians agreed to negotiate with Israel without preconditions."
- "Palestinians terrorism is no longer a threat to Israel."
- "Israel no longer faces any threats from Gaza."
- "The rights of Palestinian women are protected in the Palestinian Authority."
- "Palestinians are talking about peace with Israelis in Jordan."
- "Terrorism against Jews is limited to attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories."
- "Israeli democracy is threatened and Americans need to speak out to save it."
- "Iran is the only Muslim nation in the Middle East seeking to develop nuclear technology."
- "Women do not have equal rights in Israel."
- "Israel's policy of targeted killings is immoral and counterproductive."
- "Israel does not support humanitarian development and sustainablity in the Palestinian territories."
- "Israel is whitewashing history to promote the judaization of Jerusalem."
- "The State Department knows the capital of Israel."
- "Israeli policy has caused an exodus of Christians from the West Bank."
- "The United States is committed to ensuring a complete halt to the Iranian nuclear program."
- "Israel's new unity government reduces the prospect for continued peace negotiations with the Palestinians."
- "Palestinians no longer object to the creation of Israel."

Return to Myths & Facts: Table of Contents

MYTH

"Gaza does not receive necessary humanitarian supplies due to Israel's blockade." ^top

FACT

Though Hamas attempts to manipulate public opinion and distort reality to claim that Israel is making Gaza into the worlds “largest open-air prison,” the facts paint a completely different story. In 2010, both the International Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) publicly reported that there were no shortages of food or supplies in Gaza. ¹ Even when Hamas resumed bombarding Israel with mortars and rockets, Israel continued to provide humanitarian assistance, electricity and even waste disposal to Gaza.

In April 2011, Mathilde De Riedmatten, ICRC Deputy Head of Sub Delegation in Gaza, announced that there was “no humanitarian crisis in Gaza … there are products [in supermarkets], there are restaurants and a nice beach.” ² She noted that the ICRC and IDF “coordinate the entry of goods into Gaza and the entry and exit of people … sometimes patients who are going to Israel to receive medical care.” ³ In fact, over the first quarter of 2011 alone, Israel delivered a daily average of 5,000 tons of food, goods, fuel and development assistance through its land crossings with Gaza. Moreover, in 2010, Israel authorized the exit of more than 18,000 Palestinian patients from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical treatment – everything from cancer chemotherapy to heart surgeries. ⁴

While Israel continues to supply necessary humanitarian supplies, the citizens of Gaza can now also move and trade freely with Egypt. On May 25, 2011, the Supreme Military Council - ruling Egypt since the overthrow of President Mubarak – officially opened the Egyptian border crossing with Gaza at Rafah, ending a four-year closure of Gaza’s only international border outside of Israel. Now Israel’s detractors, who accused Israel of blockading the Strip while ignoring Egypt’s closure of the border, can no longer use Israeli policy as justification for future blockade-busting flotillas to supply Gazans.

Life in Gaza is certainly difficult, but the situation there does not constitute the humanitarian crisis Hamas and the media have portrayed. This is largely because Israel has ensured that a steady supply of food and basic supplies reach the Palestinian people. With its border now open to Egypt, Gazans can also no longer claim to be under a total blockade and can procure the resources they need through the Rafah crossing. The concern now is whether Egypt will allow Hamas to exploit the opening to smuggle in weapons for use against Israel.

MYTH

"The 'Flotilla 2' is intended solely to help relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza." ^top

FACT

For the second time in two years, a group of anti-Israel activists have organized a flotilla under the pretext of bringing necessary supplies to Gaza. The true aim of the organizers, however, is to attract international attention and embarrass and provoke Israel by challenging its policy of preventing the terrorists of Hamas from smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip. These provocateurs know that Gaza has no shortage of essential goods, that any needed supplies can be transferred through Egypt and that Israel is prepared to welcome ships into its ports and transfer the cargo to the Palestinians provided it is searched for contraband and weapons before being forwarded.

Labeling itself the international “Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human,” this year’s convoy will include ships sailing from the United States, Canada, Greece, Ireland, France and Italy and has invited journalists and politicians to join their blockade-busting mission. The U.S. State Department criticized the organizers, declaring that “groups that seek to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza are taking irresponsible and provocative actions.” ⁵ American citizens were warned not to participate in the activity, which may also violate American law because funding for the mission was raised illegally in the States. ⁶ In addition, several countries have taken measures to prevent ships from sailing from their ports. Cyprus, for example, which was used as a springboard for the 2010 flotilla, has banned all sailings to Gaza from its seaports. ⁷

Israel already has indications that some of the activists are planning to use violence against Israeli soldiers if they attempt to board the ships or prevent them from landing. Israeli intelligence learned that some of the flotilla participants may be bringing along chemical agents such as sulfuric acid in order to “shed the blood of IDF soldiers.” ⁸ The provocateurs apparently hope to gain the type of notoriety and publicity that activists in 2010 achieved when they brutally attacked Israeli soldiers boarding one of the flotilla vessels.

In 2010, flotilla organizers justified their actions by claiming a humanitarian crisis existed in Gaza. It was not true then and is not true now, as the deputy head of the Red Cross subdelegation to Gaza flatly stated in April 2011 that there is “no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” As recently as June 19, 2011, an aid convoy to Gaza named “Miles of Smiles 3” delivered 15 medical vehicles and 30 tons of medical supplies and milk powder to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. ⁹

Israel has the right –legally and ethically – to stop and inspect ships that attempt to deliver supplies straight to Gaza. In the past, ships attempting to smuggle tons of weapons into Gaza were prevented from doing so by the Israeli blockade. If the Flotilla 2 activists are truly intending to deliver humanitarian supplies, and not to create a bloody confrontation with Israel, it is possible to do so by following procedures set up by the Egyptian and Israeli governments. By trying to circumvent the avenues provided to them, flotilla participants are demonstrating they are far more interested in self-promotion than the welfare of Palestinians.

MYTH

"The United Nations repudiated the claim that Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza is legal." ^top

FACT

On September 2, 2011, the United Nations released its investigative report concerning the May 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla that tried to breach Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The UN Palmer Committee, led by former New Zealand prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, examined the facts, circumstances and context that surrounded the deadly conflagration off Gaza's coast and submitted findings on the international legitimacy and legality of Israel's continued blockade of the Hamas-run enclave. Despite attempts by many media outlets to bury the findings and highlight only the parts that criticized the Jewish state, Palmer's report adopted conclusions that vindicated Israel's positions concerning the blockade and placed the responsibility for the confrontation on the "humanitarian" groups that formed the flotilla.

The 105-page report, which relied heavily on Israel's internal investigation into the incident as well as accounts from flotilla participants, concluded that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip is consistent with customary international law, is legitimate due to the security threat posed by Hamas and does not constitute collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza.¹¹

"Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza....The naval blockade was imposed as a legitimate security measure to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea," the report concluded. Palmer also affirmed Israel's legal right to stop and board the vessels.

"Israeli Defense Forces faced significant, organized and violent resistance from a group of passengers when they boarded Mavi Marmara requiring them to use force for their protection. Three soldiers were captured, mistreated, and placed at risk [and] several others wounded," the report stated.

While the UN committee stated that the Israeli soldiers acted responsibly in defending themselves against the self-proclaimed IHH peace activists - armed with clubs, knives, and steel pipes - it also reprimanded Israel for boarding the ship without prior notice and using "excessive and unnecessary force." Israel took issue with this conclusion and reiterated its regret at the loss of life during the incident.¹²

The United Nations has now officially stated that Israel's two-year naval blockade is legal and legitimate. To protect its citizens from the continued threat of arms smuggling by Hamas, Israel has the ongoing responsibility to inspect any cargo that enters Gaza. It is Hamas and its supporters - not Israel's blockade -that pose the greatest danger to peace and security in the region.

The report criticized the flotilla's organizers and questioned their "true nature and objectives, particularly IHH [that] planned in advance to violently resist any boarding attempt."

Regarding Turkey, Palmer's report said that "not enough was done to inform the flotilla participants of the risks." Moreover, states like Turkey have "a responsibility to take proactive steps" to warn flotilla participants and "to endeavor to dissuade them" from challenging Israel's naval blockade.

The Palmer report also contradicted human rights groups' claim that a humanitarian crisis exists in Gaza. Anyone wanting to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, the report said, must do so in coordination with Israel and the Palestinian Authority through the land crossings.¹³

MYTH

"A Unilateral Declaration of Independence is the Palestinians’ only avenue to advance the Peace Process." ^top

FACT

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is poised to defy the wishes of Israel, the United States and many European nations when he submits a request to the UN to recognize a state of Palestine. Abbas maintains that Israeli intransigence at the negotiating table has left the Palestinians no choice other than unilateral action to advance the peace process. ¹⁴ In truth, it is the Palestinians who have refused even to sit down for talks with Israel. Despite repeated invitations from Israel, and encouragement by the Obama Administration, Abbas has boycotted negotiations for two years.

Rather than discuss the crucial issues of borders, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem, Abbas has chosen to pursue a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in an effort to gain international recognition for his uncompromising positions on these issues. A UN vote, however, will not provide independence to the Palestinians; it will be only a symbolic victory. Israel will not withdraw from any territory as a result, will not recognize “Palestine,” and will not change its support for a two-state solution based on agreed upon borders and security arrangements.

The Palestine Liberation Organization has held observer status at the UN since 1974 and Abbas is now seeking the privileges of an independent state. The Palestinians expect at least 150 of the 192 UN members to endorse their statehood bid, but the United States has already pledged to veto any resolution put before the Security Council. ¹⁵ Without Security Council approval, the General Assembly can only change the PLO’s status as it does not have the power to declare the establishment of states or to admit members to the UN. Nevertheless, a General Assembly vote would give international recognition to a phantom Palestinian state.

Though it is unlikely to matter to the General Assembly, which has an automatic majority for any pro-Palestinian initiative, the Palestinians do not yet have all of the characteristics of a state. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention, the four requirements for a state are a permanent population, a defined territory, effective government over the population, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

As Steven Rosen of the Middle East Forum observed, " the General Assembly will create an imaginary state that has two incompatible presidents, two rival prime ministers, a constitution whose most central provisions are violated by both sides, no functioning legislature, no ability to hold elections, a population mostly not under its control, borders that would annex territory under the control of other powers, and no clear path to resolve any of these conflicts."
¹⁶

In addition, the Palestinian Authority is unable to support itself financially, depending almost entirely on foreign aid. Finally, the “state” is divided between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with the latter outside the control of Abbas. Hamas rules Gaza independently, opposes the UDI, as well as any peace with Israel, and continues to engage in terror. A vote for the UDI would endorse Hamas rule and create a UN member state whose objective is the destruction of another member.

By going to the UN to circumvent negotiations, the Palestinians will undermine the peace process by violating international agreements, alienating the Israeli public and giving the Palestinian people false hope that their lives will change. Many Palestinians, including Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, recognize this course is irresponsible, and may threaten some of their interests, and are therefore opposed to the UDI. ¹⁷

Approval by the UN of a unilateral declaration of independence has potentially serious detrimental consequences for the Palestinians. Israel will feel justified, for example, in taking its own unilateral measures. The Oslo Accords could also be declared null and void and Israel could cease to abide by its provisions, such as providing water to the PA (which would no longer exist) or recognizing Palestinian control over certain areas in the West Bank. By declaring “independence,” the PA would threaten bilateral cooperation with Israel in more than 40 spheres of activity, including security collaboration, institution building and economic support. ¹⁸

Moreover, the UDI would jeopardize economic aid from the United States, which is legally prohibited from funding terrorist organizations and Hamas would now be governing at least part of phantom Palestine. The U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem, Daniel Rubenstein, told the PA that Congress is prepared to “take punitive measures to cut aid” if the UDI is pushed forward. ¹⁹

Additionally, the UDI will raise expectations among the Palestinian people that they will be independent, that Israeli involvement in their lives will end, that the settlements will disappear and that they will have a capital in Jerusalem. When none of these come to pass, the public may turn on its leaders or, more likely, vent its frustration on Israel. As EU Parliament Chief Jerry Buzek warned, “unilateral actions can become very dangerous.” ²⁰

A UDI would contravene almost every international resolution and agreement aimed at achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Oslo Accords, the Road Map and Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 1850 stipulate, the only route to a sustainable peace is through negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admonished the Palestinian leadership on the UDI tactic, saying “there is no substitute for face to face discussion.” At a time when much of the Middle East is either in flames or simmering, the Palestinians seem determined to throw a gasoline can into the mix. The United States and Israel are trying to do everything possible to discourage them from their incendiary policy and to restart peace negotiations, but Abbas may not be deterred from proving once again that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

MYTH

"Palestinian leaders claim that the future Palestinian state will welcome Jews and Israelis." ^top

FACT

The Palestinian Liberation Organization’s ambassador to the United States Maen Areikat said on September 13, 2011, that a future Palestinian state should be free of Jews, a call for ethnic cleansing reminiscent of Nazi Germany. This is not the first time that a Palestinian official has suggested making “Palestine” judenrein and reflects an ugly undercurrent of anti-Semitism within the Palestinian Authority.

Once a Palestinian state is established, why shouldn’t Jews be welcome there? The same question could be asked of any country, but is particularly relevant in the case of the area likely to become Palestine because it has been the home of Jews for centuries.

Imagine the uproar if any Israeli official suggested that no Arabs or Muslims should be allowed to live in Israel. In fact, 1.3 million Arabs live as free and equal citizens in Israel. “After the experience of the last 44 years of military occupation and all the conflict and friction, I think it would be in the best interest of the two people to be separated at first,” Areikat told USA Today. ²¹

Areikat insists that the Palestinians need to work on building their national identity, but part of their demand for independence is based on the claim that they already have a national identity. Moreover, how would identity-building be impeded by the presence of Jews, unless you subscribe to Nazi-like ideology about purity of the race and argue that Jews may somehow contaminate the Palestinian nation.

After provoking criticism, Areikat later gave a partial retraction, but his anti-Semitic views have been echoed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who said in December 2010, “If there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, we won’t agree to the presence of one Israeli in it.” ²²

Now Abbas is requesting that the United Nations endorse a Palestinian state that will be founded on anti-Semitism and a promise of ethnic cleansing. The question now becomes whether a body created with the aim of promoting peace, dignity and universal human rights will disgrace itself by voting in favor of a resolution that undermines those principles.

MYTH

"Mahmoud Abbas is working toward reaching peace with Israel." ^top

FACT

Increasingly, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appears to be the negotiator of choice for the West simply because officials see no option. Israelis are increasingly beginning to question this default option after three years of Abbas refusing to enter negotiations with Israel and a lifetime of rejectionism.

New evidence that Abbas is the impediment to peace continues to mount. In September 2011, Abbas defied the United States and many other nations by submitting an application for recognition to the UN Security Council.

A month later, Abbas again ignored the objections of the United States and other Western powers and submitted an application to UNESCO seeking recognition of Palestine. While winning the vote, the White House condemned the decision as "regrettable" and "premature," and said it undermines the effort to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians.²⁴

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly invited Abbas to talks without preconditions and Abbas has refused. In fact, Abbas came out of his first meeting with President Obama saying he hoped the Obama Administration would force Netanyahu out of office. Abbas added that he was willing to wait years until that happened.²⁵

Even after Israel placed a ten-month moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank in an effort to entice the Palestinians into peace talks, Abbas refused to sit with the Israeli leaders until just two weeks before the freeze was set to expire and, after one meeting, never returned to the talks.²⁶

In October 2011, the Quartet called for a renewal of talks and Abbas ignored the group that includes the UN, Russia, the United States and the European Union.

A new memoir by former U.S. National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has provided additional damning evidence of Abbas's rejection of peace. In 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered to withdraw from approximately 94 percent of the West Bank, with an additional 1.5 percent of the territory used to create a passage to Gaza and the remaining 4.5 percent to be "swapped" so that Israel could annex its major settlement blocs.²⁷

Olmert also proposed a division of Jerusalem that would have allowed the Palestinians to establish their capital in the predominantly Arab part of the city. Rice called the proposal "amazing" and warned the Prime Minister that "Yitzhak Rabin had been killed for offering far less."²⁸

Abbas refused to consummate the deal. As Haaretz noted, "aficionados of the Palestinians again found a million and one reasons why the peace-loving Palestinian leader had refused the offer."²⁹

While rejecting peace Abbas also glorifies terrorists. Most recently, he praised five of the terrorists released in the deal to free Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit (who was kidnapped on Abbas's watch). The killers, along with other former prisoners, were awarded grants by Abbas as a "presidential token of honor."³⁰ In December 2011, Abbas met with a woman (released in the Shalit deal) who lured a 16 year-old Israeli teenager to his death by Palestinian militants, under the pretext of an internet romance in 2001.³¹

Abbas has found excuses not to negotiate a deal with three different Israeli prime ministers and there is no reason to expect that a change in Israeli leadership would make him any less intransigent.

After spending two years trying to satisfy Palestinian demands and encourage them to return to the negotiating table, President Obama has reportedly grown so disenchanted with Abbas that he has not spoken to him in months.³²

Columnist Yoel Marcus may have put it best when he described Abbas as "an adamant rejectionist" who comes "across as a nicely compelling non-partner."³³

MYTH

"Time is not on Iran's side vis-a-vis its acquiring the atomic bomb." ^top

FACT

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report on November 8, 2011, with new evidence of Iran’s commitment to building a nuclear weapon and the progress it has made toward achieving its goal.

The IAEA expresses “more concern about the possible existence of undeclared nuclear facilities and material in Iran” and “was informed that Iran has undertaken work to manufacture small capsules suitable for use as containers of a component containing nuclear material. Iran may also have experimented with such components in order to assess their performance in generating neurons. Such components, if placed in the centre of a nuclear core of an implosion type nuclear device and compressed, could produce a burst of neutrons suitable for initiating a fission chain reaction,” the report states.³⁴

Unwilling to take military action, the international community has tried both carrots and sticks to halt the Iranian drive toward the nuclear threshold. Years of fruitless negotiations and offers of incentives were viewed by the Iranians as signs of Western weakness and were exploited to accelerate their program. As multiple IAEA reports have illustrated, sanctions have had no more impact as several nations have failed to enforce them rigorously, and other countries, especially China, have openly flouted them. Efforts to impose tougher sanctions have proved futile as China and Russia block their adoption at the UN Security Council.

U.S. policy has also been a failure. The Obama Administration first tried negotiating with the Iranians and was made to look as foolish as the Europeans who had previously failed to talk Iran out of building a bomb. The Administration has continued to apply half-measures and refused to impose any significant sanctions that would seriously inflict pain on the Iranian leadership or the general public. The fear of hurting the people has ensured they do not suffer enough to risk a revolution against the regime.

The only publicly disclosed efforts to stop the Iranians that have reportedly slowed them down have been quasi-military operations involving the assassination of nuclear scientists and the use of cyber warfare to infect the nuclear program's computer systems with a virus. The IAEA report makes clear, however, that even these covert operations have not discouraged Iran from pursuing a weapon and making progress toward their goal.

Some apologists for Iran have suggested that the regime poses no danger to U.S. interests. This is nonsense. Iran funds international terror, works to undermine Arab-Israeli peace, threatens oil supplies, promotes instability, targets our troops in the region and hatched a terror plot in Washington, D.C. The pre-nuclear Iran is already spurring proliferation as Arab rivals start to explore a nuclear deterrent.

The nations in the Middle East have no doubt about the danger posed by the Iranians and, with the exception of their allies in Syria and proxies in Lebanon, are united in calling for measures to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Saudi Arabia has made no secret of its desire, for example, to see the United States use military force against Iran.³⁵

Iran is continuing on what appears to be an inexorable march to join the nuclear club. Continuing policies that have failed for a decade will not halt that advance.

MYTH

"Due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel's economy has been suffering." ^top

FACT

Israelis have always envisioned a day when they would have peace with their neighbors and enjoy normal commercial relations that would be a boon to both Israel and the Arab states. Unfortunately, the Arab states initiated an economic boycott in 1945 and most still refuse to engage in any trade with Israel. The ongoing conflict also imposes heavy costs on Israel, forcing it to devote resources to security that might otherwise be directed to more productive uses.

Despite these impediments, Israel has shown a remarkable capacity to thrive economically throughout its history. Today, in fact, as the economies of most nations struggle, Israel’s is booming. Israel now has the world’s fastest-growing economy.³⁶

One indication of the strength of Israel’s economy is its rating by Standard and Poor. While S&P downgraded America’s rating in August 2011 (for the first time since 1917) from AAA to AA+ following the stalemate over raising the debt ceiling,³⁷ the ratings services raised Israel’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings in September 2011 from “A” to “A+,” denoting its “very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.”³⁸

Another sign of Israel’s economic strength was its admission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in June 2011. This placed Israel among a select group of 34 nations that “promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.”³⁹

According to the OECD, Israel’s economy is expected to grow by 5.4 percent in 2011, up from 4.7 percent in 2010. Unemployment is also expected to decline from 6.6 percent to 6.2.

For 2011-2012, Israel ranks as the 22nd most-competitive market in the world, two ranks up from last year in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report.⁴⁰ Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden, Finland and the United States rank as the top five, respectively, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the only other Middle East nations in the top 25, rank at 14 and 17, respectively.⁴¹

These are just a few indicators of the strength of Israel’s economy. Israel, like other nations, also has its share of economic problems. As the protests of the summer of 2011 indicated, many Israelis are unhappy with the gap between rich and poor and the cost of housing and child care. The number of Israelis below the poverty line has also grown to 23.6% of the total population today. These are real concerns that Israelis want their government to address.

Israelis also hope that one day they will be at peace with all their neighbors and can then focus more of their resources on improving the lives of the people and expanding the economy and less on security.

 

MYTH

"Of the Palestinian prisoners released in the Shalit deal, most who have spoken out say they will renounce terror." ^top

FACT

Israel hoped that the 477 prisoners it released as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange deal in November 2011 would show remorse for their actions; however, the oldest prisoner released so far seems to be the only one with any hint of penitence.⁴²

Seventy-nine-year-old Sami Younis had served 29 years of a 40-year sentence for activity in the terror cell that murdered soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980. While never explicitly expressing regret, Younis said that “what was correct for that time is no longer correct. Since the Oslo accord, I’ve become a soldier for peace. Sixty years of war and bloodshed is enough.”⁴³

Unfortunately, several others prisoners have shown no remorse whatsoever for their heinous crimes and immediately incited others to follow in their terrorist footsteps. These include failed suicide bombers and Palestinians who dispatched or drove other terrorists to attack Israeli bus stations, hotels and restaurants.

These killers and would-be murderers were welcomed home as heroes not only by their families and friends but also by Palestinian Authority officials. President Mahmoud Abbas, often called a “moderate” by wishful thinkers, declared, “You are freedom fighters and holy warriors.”⁴⁴

One appalling example of a terrorist using her notoriety to promote violence was failed suicide bomber Wafa al-Bis, who told dozens of Palestinian children at her Gaza home: “I hope you will walk the same path we took and, God willing, we will see some of you as martyrs.”⁴⁵

Al Bis was 19 when she tried to blow up an Israeli hospital but was found with 22 pounds of explosives sewn to her underwear at the Erez crossing checkpoint. Indeed, Bis’ mother said “this is jihad, it is an honorable thing and I am proud of her.”⁴⁶

Ahlam Tamimi was not only unrepentant; she was willing to resort to violence again. In July 2001, Tamimi, then a 20 year-old student, drove a suicide bomber who blew up a Jerusalem Sbarro restaurant that killed 16 people and injured 130.

When asked if she felt sorry, she replied “No. Why should I feel sorry?” Tamimi does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and added, “I dedicated myself to jihad for the sake of Allah, and Allah granted me success. You know how many casualties there were [in the 2001 attack]? This was made possible by Allah.” The interviewer asked if she would do it again and she said, “Yes.”⁴⁷

Similarly, Muhammad Abu Ataya – sentenced to 16 years in prison for membership in Hamas’ military brigade – said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not deter us from continuing the journey of resistance.” Speaking to Lebanese Al-Quds TV, Abu Ataya stated he was imprisoned for “killing spies and traitors [and] going after the herd of settlers and the Israeli army,” actions which he still supported.⁴⁸

Another of the murderers who gained his freedom was Yehya Sinwar, a senior operative who helped form Hamas’ military wing in Gaza. He had been serving four life sentences for his involvement in the 1994 kidnapping and murder of Israel Defense Forces soldier Nachshon Wachsman. Upon his release, Sinwar extolled the virtue of kidnapping Israelis as a means of improving the morale of Palestinian prisoners. “For the prisoner, capturing an Israeli soldier is the best news in the universe, because he knows that a glimmer of hope has been opened for him,” he told The New York Times.⁴⁹

 

MYTH

"Israel's proposed rebuilding of the Mugrabi Gate leading to the Temple Mount is an act of religious war." ^top

FACT

On Monday, December 12, 2011, Israel temporarily closed the single pedestrian walkway open to non-Muslims that leads to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel’s Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which closed the walkway to the Mugrabi Bridge, cited the public safety of visitors who use the walkway as the reason for closure. The ramp is a temporary structure that is unstable, a fire hazard and prone to storm damage. It was built after an earthquake damaged the original ramp in 2004.

Israel wants to build a safer, permanent structure, but has been reluctant to do so because of the type of hysterical reaction of Arab officials that accompanied the brief closure of the current bridge. Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian (Hamas and the Palestinian Authority) officials characterized the Israeli move as negative, and their statements range from calling it “illegal” and “unacceptable” to “a declaration of religious war.”⁵⁰

Jordan’s religious affairs minister Abdul-Salam Abbadi criticized the Israelis of “further Judaizing Jerusalem and changing the Islamic and Christian character in the Old City using baseless excuses.” One PA Official called the decision “illegal unacceptable and provocative [because] Israel has no right running these sites in the occupied part of east Jerusalem.” Hamas accused Israel of “provoking the feelings of all Islamic and Arab people.”⁵¹

Additionally, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights “condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing policies adopted by Israeli occupation authorities aimed at creating a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem, the latest of which has been closing the wooden bridge of Bab al-Maghariba.”⁵²

The outrage expressed over Israel’s actions is less about the bridge than the underlying issue of who ought to have jurisdiction to control the gate to the Temple Mount. Palestinians insist this should be part of the capital of a future Palestinian state and Muslims argue they should control the area because it is the site of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. For Jews, the Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, the site of the original holy Temple built by Solomon. Politically, it is also part of Israel’s capital and subject to the government’s authority.

The issue has nothing to do with freedom of religion or access to the Temple Mount. The Mugrabi Bridge is used primarily by non-Muslims. Muslims can and routinely do enter the Temple Mount from another of the several gates only open to Muslims.

Israel has demonstrated sensitivity to the issue by refraining from demolishing the bridge and building a more structurally sound one up to this point; however, the time is coming when public safety will have to take precedence over politics. The Mugrabi Bridge is unsafe and needs to be replaced. Providing this security to Muslims and non-Muslims alike who wish to visit the Temple Mount or pray in the mosque should be commended.

 

MYTH

"The Palestinian leadership wants to normalize ties with Israel." ^top

FACT

Israel’s quest for peace with its neighbors starts with a desire to engage in mutually beneficial cooperative activities and to build confidence and positive attitudes to encourage coexistence and lasting peace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with President Obama, has spent most of the last three years trying to convince Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to simply sit at the negotiating table to reach a peace agreement. Abbas has stubbornly refused to engage in peace talks. Worse, he is now doing everything in his power to prevent other Palestinians from engaging Israelis in any way.

The West Bank-ruling Fatah party declared war on normalization with Israel, Bethlehem’s (Palestinian) mayor called for a total boycott of Israel, and hundreds of Palestinians successfully interrupted and stopped two conferences about peace whose participants included Palestinians and Israelis.⁵³

Senior Fatah official Hatem Abdel Kader announced Fatah’s plans to “thwart any Palestinian-Israeli meeting, even if it’s held in Tel Aviv or west Jerusalem…In Fatah we have officially decided to ban such gatherings.” Last week, Palestinians stopped an attempt by the Israeli Palestinian Confederation to hold a conference in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and the following day, another anti-normalization protest forced the group to cancel another planned meeting at which Al-Quds University President Sari Nusseibeh planned to speak.⁵⁴

This week, Palestinian political activists thwarted a meeting between Israelis and Palestinians in east Jerusalem that was organized by the Palestine-Israel Journal, a non-profit group started by two well-known Palestinian and Israeli journalists. The group's main goal is to broaden the peace process's support base by promoting dialogue between the civil societies. The thwarted meeting's topic was the "Arab Spring's impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." ⁵⁵

Lifelong civil rights leader and the first South African democratic leader Nelson Mandela said: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”⁵⁶ The Palestinians, however, call for boycotts and other measures to avoid working with Israelis to build the kind of partnership Mandela rightly said could lead to peace.

Once again, the obstacle to peace is clear – Palestinian intransigence. Abbas still believes he can establish a state without negotiating with Israel. Until he is either disabused of this delusion or replaced by a true leader who promotes normalization and seeks peace through dialogue, the two-state solution that Israel and most of the world seek will remain out of reach.

 

MYTH

"The Palestinians agreed to negotiate with Israel without preconditions." ^top

FACT

After three years of refusing to talk to Israeli officials, Jordan’s King Abdullah persuaded the Palestinians to meet with Israeli negotiators in Amman, raising hopes that, at last, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was dropping his demand that Israel freeze all settlements before agreeing to enter peace talks. Israelis also were cautiously optimistic that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s longstanding invitation to discuss all outstanding issues would be accepted and that progress could be made toward achieving a two-state solution.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat threw cold water on those hopes immediately, saying the Amman meeting was not a resumption of negotiations. He continued to insist that “Netanyahu needs to freeze construction of settlements and accept the ’67 outline for a two-state solution before we return to the negotiating table.”⁵⁷

This was never a precondition for talks in the past; in fact, Abbas held 35 meetings with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert while settlement construction continued.⁵⁸ When Netanyahu did agree to a 10-month freeze under pressure from the Obama Administration, Abbas still refused to negotiate until the last month of the freeze, when he nixed continuing the negotiations on the grounds that Israel would not extend the settlement freeze. ⁵⁹

Palestinians and their supporters claim that Israeli settlement construction undermines confidence in Israel’s commitment to peace; however, they have no one to blame but themselves for the growth of settlements. The moment they sign a peace agreement, the settlement construction will cease, but there is no reason to expect that to happen in advance of negotiations.

The Palestinians operate under the impression that Israel must make concessions, prisoner releases, settlement freezes, dismantling of checkpoints, just to get them to the bargaining table. Compromise, however, is supposed to be part of peace talks, not the price for the talks themselves. In its desire for peace with the Palestinians, Israel has nevertheless made such concessions in the past, but there is no reason to do so now.

While the Palestinians complain about the impact of settlements on their confidence, they are doing everything in their power to undermine Israeli confidence in their sincerity about peace. First, Fatah has been working to reconcile with Hamas, which condemned the Amman talks, vows to destroy Israel and declared itself the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.⁶⁰ Besides reiterating its unwillingness to recognize Israel, let alone make peace with it, Hamas continues to engage in terror attacks against Israel, firing a total of 633 rockets and 400 mortar shells into Israel from the Gaza Strip in the last three years. ⁶¹

Second, rather than express a desire to peacefully end the conflict with Israel, the Palestinians have threatened a lengthy diplomatic offensive against Israel aimed at winning recognition from the international community for their demands without having to compromise through direct talks with Israel, isolating Israel and seeking international sanctions to try to force Israel to capitulate to their demands. “[The year 2012] will be the start of an unprecedented diplomatic campaign on the part of the Palestinian leadership, and a year of pressure on Israel that will put it under a real international siege [through a] campaign similar to the one waged against apartheid in South Africa,” Fatah Central Committee member Nabil Sha’ath said.⁶² The Palestinian campaign is expected to include:

• Requesting that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pass a resolution condemning settlement construction and imposing international sanctions on Israel.
• Urging the International Criminal Court in The Hague to try Israel for war crimes for Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008-2009.
• Persuading Palestinian citizens to file lawsuits against Israel in Western courts.
• Seeking implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which Palestinians falsely claim would prohibit settlement construction.
• Encouraging the UN General Assembly (GA) or UN Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding commission to investigate the settlement issue.
• Renewing the effort to secure full-membership status for Palestine in the UNSC or asking the GA for nonmember status.
• Orchestrating mass rallies against Israel in the West Bank to draw attention to the Israeli occupation, according to Hamas.⁶³

Third, Palestinian incitement continues. In a particularly bold gesture of defiance, Abbas appointed a convicted terrorist, responsible for shootings and bombings against Israelis, and released as part of the Shalit exchange deal, as an advisor in his Ramallah office.⁶⁴

These are not words or actions of leaders interested in serious negotiations to make peace. Rather than seeking to resolve differences, the Palestinians seem committed to intensifying the conflict. This reckless policy is being pursued against the backdrop of the region’s turmoil and the growing likelihood that radical Islamists will take power throughout the region. This is a time when Israelis need reassurance that their most immediate neighbors are interested in coexistence if they are to be expected to make risky territorial concessions.

Hopefully, the two sides will continue direct talks, but those negotiations can only succeed if there is a dramatic change in the Palestinian position and they drop their preconditions and discuss the difficult compromises both sides must make to achieve a two-state solution.⁶⁵

 

MYTH

"Palestinian terrorism is no longer a threat to Israel." ^top

FACT

The Palestinian decision to finally sit down with Israeli officials to discuss issues is an important first step toward achieving a two-state solution. One of the principal impediments to peace, however, remains Palestinian terrorism.

To its credit, thanks in large measure to U.S. training and cooperation with Israel, the Palestinian Authority has significantly reduced the attacks and threats from the West Bank. The Palestinians originally promised to cease all terror when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin agreed to mutual recognition.⁶⁶ They have reiterated this pledge in each succeeding agreement without yet fulfilling the commitment. For example, in 2011 alone, the following attacks occurred:

• March 11 - Udi Fogel, 36, and Ruth Fogel, 35, along with three of their children Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and 3-month-old Hadas were stabbed to death by terrorists in their home in Itamar, in northern Samaria.⁶⁷
• March 23 - One woman, identified by the police as a 56-year-old British tourist, was killed and about 50 people wounded when a bomb exploded across from the Jerusalem Convention Center, near the Central Bus Station. The bomb had been placed near a telephone booth at a crowded bus stop next to Egged city bus #74.⁶⁸
• April 24 - Ben-Yosef Livnat, 24, of Jerusalem was killed by a Palestinian policeman at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus.⁶⁹
• September 23 - Asher Palmer, 25, and his year old son Yonatan of Kiryat Arba were killed when their car crashed on Route 60 near Hebron, after being struck by stones. ⁷⁰

These are just the attacks that have succeeded; terrorists regularly attempt to infiltrate Israel or to mount other attacks in the West Bank. The much criticized security fence and the handful of remaining checkpoints, however, continue to save the lives of innocent Israeli Jews and Arabs. For instance, on January 7, 2012, Israel Border Police thwarted a major terror attack originating from Jenin when they captured four Palestinians carrying 11 pipe bombs, a pistol and a commando knife at the Salem Crossing in the northern West Bank. They are suspected of having planned to attack a military court.⁷¹

The Palestinian Authority continues to lack any control whatsoever over the Gaza Strip and the terrorists operating there. In fact, PA President Mahmoud Abbas continues to seek an alliance with Hamas, the party responsible for the ongoing terror emanating from their area of control.

Since February 2009, Hamas has fired at least 633 rockets and 405 mortar shells from Gaza at Israeli civilian areas.⁷² In addition to creating a constant level of anxiety for hundreds of thousands of Israelis living in southern Israel, many of these attacks have had deadly results. In 2011, the following Israelis were killed and injured:

• April 7 - Daniel Viflic, 16, of Bet Shemesh, died (April 17) of mortal wounds suffered when an anti-tank missile was fired at a school bus in the Negev near Kibbutz Sa'ad just moments after it had dropped off the rest of the school children.⁷³
• August 18 - Eight Israeli citizens were killed and more than 40 wounded in a multi-pronged terrorist attack north of Eilat in southern Israel. Five civilians were killed when terrorists opened fire on a passenger bus and another civilian was killed in a separate attack on an empty bus. An IDF combat soldier was killed when his jeep hit an IED placed on the road and a member of the Israeli police special SWAT unit was killed when his unit led heavy fighting against a group of retreating terrorists. The victims: sisters Flora Gaz (52) and Shula Karlinsky (54) and their husbands - Moshe Gaz and Dov Karlinsky (58); Yosef Levi (58); St Sgt Moshe Naftali (22) of the Golani Brigade; SWAT Cpt Paskal Avrahami (49); and Yitzhak Sela (56), of Be'er Sheva, was driving the bus. The Popular Reistance Committees, responsible for the terrorist attacks, is an independent terrorist organization in Gaza, supported, subsidized and trained by Hamas.⁷⁴
• August 20 - Yossi Shoshan, 38, from the small town of Ofakim in southern Israel, was killed when a GRAD rocket shot by Gaza terrorists landed near him in Be'er Sheva as he was driving to find his pregnant wife who was hiding from the attacks.⁷⁵
• August 22 - Eliyahu Naim, 79, who sustained serious head injury while running for cover during an Ashkelon rocket attack died at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Sept 4, 2011.⁷⁶
• October 29 - Moshe Ami, 56, a father of four from Ashkelon, was killed when shrapnel from a GRAD rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza hit his car.⁷⁷

Furthermore, the IDF believes that the amount of weaponry that has been smuggled into Gaza in 2011 has increased by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year in part due to weapons brought in from Libya amidst the turmoil there. Israel is particularly concerned about sophisticated Russian-made antitank missiles and shoulder-to-air missiles.⁷⁸

Previous efforts to move the peace process forward have been thwarted by Palestinian terror and could do so again. The only way to convince the people of Israel that Palestinians are sincere about ending the conflict is to put a permanent end to violence and the ongoing incitement that encourages terror.

MYTH

"Israel no longer faces any threats from Gaza." ^top

FACT

Israel faces a serious security threat from Gaza. Led by Hamas, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza continue to fire hundreds of rockets and mortars at Israel – more than thirty rockets have struck Israeli civilian areas since December 2011 alone. Moreover, with strengthened financial support from Iran and a weakening of Egyptian security in the Sinai, Hamas has been able to vastly enhance its weapons caches despite ongoing IDF attempts to destroy Hamas weapons facilities.

While Israel is constantly searching for avenues to advance the peace process, Hamas remains committed to Israel’s destruction and has proven unwilling, even under the guise of “Palestinian reconciliation,” to recognize Israel or consider any peace agreements. The prisoner exchange with Israel for the release of Gilad Shalit has emboldened the terrorists in Gaza. Shalit “will not be the last soldier kidnapped by Hamas as long as Israel keeps Palestinian prisoners detained,” Hamas’ military wing spokesman said after the October 2011 exchange.⁷⁹

Hamas is believed to have a fighting force of more than 20,000 armed men, including five brigades assigned to different areas of the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Hamas has elite surveillance, anti-tank, mortar & rocket fire and anti-aircraft teams equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry.⁸⁰ Though the IDF inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, both in terms of men killed and weaponry destroyed, during Operation Cast Lead, many observers believe that Hamas’ capability is even greater now, a mere two years later.

Since the end of Operation Cast Lead in January 2009, Hamas has fired 633 rockets and 400 mortar shells into Israel, including 80 grad rockets, compared to only two in 2010. These rocket barrages terrorize over one million Israeli residents and have directly led to the deaths of five innocent civilians, including 16-year-old Daniel Viflic, who was killed when Hamas fired an anti-tank missile at a school bus.⁸¹

Moreover, the breakdown in security along the Sinai-Gaza border has allowed Hamas to rearm and enhance its weapons stock. As a result of the turmoil across northern Africa, thousands of missiles - including shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles and rockets with a range of more than 40 kilometers [sufficient to reach Ashdod to the north and the outskirts of Be’er Sheva to the southeast] - are now being smuggled into Gaza through illegal tunnels on its border with Sinai. Another sign of the terror is the fact that saboteurs have blown up the gas pipeline between Egypt, Israel and Jordan seven times since last year.⁸²

In years past, Israel was able to rely on the Egyptian military to secure this border, but with the collapse of the Mubarak government and the growing possibility of Islamic extremists taking over the country, Israel now has no partner to help impede the flow of illegal weapons into Gaza.

The fact that the threat to Israel from Gaza has steadily been growing has forced Israel to prepare for the contingency of a military operation to protect its citizens. No country would allow hundreds of thousands of its citizens to be forced to live in perpetual fear of coming under attack from rockets. To avert another outbreak of violence, it is essential that the Palestinian Authority assert control over Gaza and the international community take steps to prevent arms smuggling to Gaza and to ensure that Hamas understands it will be held responsible for a future conflict.

MYTH

"The rights of Palestinian women are protected in the Palestinian Authority." ^top

FACT

Discrimination against women is common in Palestinian society and institutionalized by Palestinian authorities in the territories, particularly in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Physical violence, including spousal abuse, employment prejudice and education inequities are just some of the ways that Palestinian women are mistreated on a daily basis. Like the abuse of women throughout the Arab and Muslim world, however, the media, human rights organizations and even women’s rights groups have paid little attention to these violations of human rights.

In January 2012, women employees at the Palestinian Women’s Affairs Ministry began a “hunger strike till death” to protest harassment and mistreatment of women by their own leadership.⁸³“The situation is [so] grave,” one striker said, “[that] women have received threats to be shot in their legs … [or] not to let [into] their offices.”⁸⁴

Such abuse, though, is only the tip of the iceberg.

In 2007, two in five women in Gaza reported being subjected to violence and, in 2009, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights reported nine women had been murdered in honor killings in the Palestinian Territories.⁸⁵ In 2009, 52 percent of Gazan women faced regular physical violence and 14 percent were victims of sexual violence; 37 percent of women in the Gaza Strip said domestic violence is the primary safety problem facing girls and young women.⁸⁶

Legally, women are supposed to be protected by Palestinian law, but their rights are still severely infringed. Rape, for instance, is illegal – and punishable with up to fifteen years in jail - but the law does not cover spousal rape and abuse. Likewise, assault and battery are crimes under Palestinian Authority law, but rarely applied to cases of domestic violence. Moreover, Muslims in the West Bank and Gaza are governed by Shariah law when it comes to marriage, but few women are actually accorded their proper rights from these laws.⁸⁷

In Gaza, Hamas officials prohibit all mixing of men and women in public while premarital sex and other “ethical crimes” are punishable by incarceration. The “morality police” punish women for dressing “inappropriately” or riding motorcycles. In 2010, Hamas banned women from smoking water pipes in public cafes. Female university students regularly report discrimination by university administrators, professors and their male peers.⁸⁸

Women’s participation in the workforce in Gaza is approximately 14 percent, compared to 67 percent for women in the West Bank. Cultural restrictions and traditional stereotypes continue to hinder women’s workforce participation, especially in professions such as journalism, where female reporters are often relegated to covering mundane topics, if they are allowed to report on anything at all.⁸⁹ In March 2011, a handful of Palestinian female journalists complained that they had been beaten and tortured by Hamas security forces in Gaza, just before Hamas raided media offices in Gaza, including those of CNN and Reuters, and confiscated equipment and documents.⁹⁰

Perhaps the most reprehensible abuse of women is their use as human shields by Hamas. During Operation Cast Lead, a number of incidents occurred where Hamas terrorists used women to protect themselves and military sites.⁹¹

“Where women are educated and empowered,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, “economies are more productive and strong. Where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable.” ⁹²

The mistreatment of women in the Palestinian Authority should be high on the agenda of human rights organizations as well as politicians interested in Middle East peace. Ensuring the rights of Palestinian women will help make the PA economy stronger, the society more just and the conditions for peace with Israel more favorable.

 

MYTH

"Palestinians are talking about peace with Israelis in Jordan." ^top

FACT

Palestinians refuse to make the simple declarative statement that they support two states for two peoples – as Benjamin Netanyahu did in June 2009. They sit in what are supposed to be peace talks without ever agreeing that peace should be the outcome of negotiations.⁹³

Lacking a mandate from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to actually negotiate, the Palestinian delegation refused to listen when Israel’s security concerns were raised (they prevented the Israeli briefer from entering the room). Moreover, when the Israeli team broached the subject of East Jerusalem and Jewish settlement blocs, chief “negotiator” Saeb Erekat had no counter offer other than accusing Israel of trying to deprive Palestine of territorial contiguity.⁹⁴

Israel continues to be pressured to make gestures to the Palestinians just to keep them at the negotiating table, ignoring the fact that the Palestinians never consider any Israeli concessions sufficient and simply raise their demands each time Israel gives in to international pressure and offers Mahmoud Abbas a carrot.

Now Abbas has expanded his list of preconditions for Israel to meet before agreeing to future negotiations. In addition to a settlement freeze, Abbas now demands that Israel release more Palestinian prisoners, dismantle West Bank checkpoints, and even cede territory to PA control. In essence, Abbas is seeking to flip the negotiation process on its head - demanding results before talks - and then seeks to blame Israel for the lack of progress until his demands are met.⁹⁵

Peace seems to be the last thing on the Palestinian agenda. Instead, Fatah and Hamas have announced their reconciliation without Hamas meeting any of the international conditions for recognition, namely recognizing Israel, ending terror and affirming past Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Hamas officials have made clear they remain committed to Israel’s destruction and this must now be considered the policy of the unity government.⁹⁶

Beyond rhetoric, the Palestinians continue to engage in warlike activities, including the firing of rockets into Israel, attempting to carry out terrorist attacks, mounting an international campaign to delegitimize Israel and inciting violence in schools, the media and mosques.⁹⁷

Some still naively believe the conflict is about land. Israel proved through its withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, however, that it is prepared to give up land in the hope of achieving peace. The Palestinians, however, do not give any indication that they will be satisfied unless Israel withdraws to the Mediterranean Sea. The Palestinians’ leaders today are not just at war with Israelis but with the Jewish people. This was evident in the statement by the Mufti of Jerusalem, the inheritor of the position once held by Hitler’s would-be accomplice Haj Amin al-Husseini. The current Mufti, Sheikh Ikrem Sabri, quoted a hadith on January 9, 2012, which said that:

The hour of judgment will not come until you fight the Jews….The Jew will hide behind the stone and behind the tree. The stone and the tree will cry, ‘Oh Muslim, Oh Servant of God, this is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.’⁹⁸

The man who introduced the Mufti declared: “Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs is a war of religion and faith. Long live Fatah!”⁹⁹

Israelis would like nothing more than to have peace with the Palestinians, especially watching the turmoil in the Arab world around them; however, the earthquake we are witnessing in the region makes Israel’s security needs even more urgent. Israelis now see Islamists taking over Egypt and threatening to tear up the treaty with Israel; Hamas terrorists firing rockets from Gaza, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists taking over Lebanon and threatening to fire 50,000 rockets at northern Israel; Syria in shambles, with the prospect of an Islamist regime coming to power in Damascus; the Palestinians in the West Bank joining hands with Hamas and Iran getting closer each day to achieving a nuclear capability.¹⁰⁰

As the earth falls in around them, the Israelis need reassurance, not pressure. The inventory of their concessions is long; the list of Palestinian compromises can be written on a postage stamp. It is said that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The long journey toward peace between Israel and the Palestinians ultimately begins with the Palestinians taking that first step – one Israel has already taken – and agreeing to two states for two peoples.

MYTH

"Terrorism against Jews is limited to attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories." ^top

FACT

The terror war against Israel and the Jewish people is not confined to the Middle East. For years PLO terrorists attacked Jewish targets around the world, hijacked airplanes, murdered Olympic athletes and targeted diplomats. This worldwide terror campaign appears to be escalating again with the support of Iran, aided by its proxy Hezbollah. As events of early 2012 show, terrorism against Jews is neither a byproduct of “occupation” nor a response to specific Israeli actions but is bred out of wanton incitement to kill Jews wherever they are.

In February 2012, terrorists attacked official Israeli representatives abroad in India and Georgia, while in Thailand, security officials were able to prevent Iranian and Lebanese cells from carrying out their planned strikes.¹⁰¹ Thai security officials arrested several Iranian men who likely were trying to attack Israelis in Bangkok.¹⁰² These incidents came on the heels of the January arrest of three Iranian men in Azerbaijan who had planned to kill two Israeli religious emissaries in Baku.¹⁰³

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated unequivocally that Israel holds Iran responsible for the string of attacks. “In recent months we have witnessed several attempts to attack Israeli citizens and Jews in several countries,” he said. “Iran and its proxy Hezbollah were behind all of these attempted attacks … Iran is behind these attacks; it is the largest exporter of terrorism in the world.”¹⁰⁴

These are just the latest atrocities perpetrated by Iran and its allies. Argentina's Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed in 1992, long before any tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. That bomb killed 29 and injured more than 250.¹⁰⁵ Among the victims were Israeli diplomats, children, clergy from a church located across the street and other passersby. Two years later, the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 and wounding 300.¹⁰⁶

“Just as we have seen in the past, the Jews are the convenient first target for crazy dictatorships, but not the last,” Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said.¹⁰⁷

For now, Jews are the targets, but if steps are not taken to stop Iran’s nuclear program, the entire world may face the perilous threat of Iranian-sponsored global terrorism buttressed by a nuclear capability.

MYTH

"Israeli democracy is threatened and Americans need to speak out to save it." ^top

FACT

Public figures in the Jewish world from Peter Beinart and Thomas Friedman to Jeffrey Goldberg and Roger Cohen have expressed concern that Israeli democracy is increasingly doomed. “[Among] the greatest danger[s] by far to Israel is that it will squander the opportunities of power,” Cohen wrote in The New York Times.¹⁰⁸ Enemies of Israel are wringing their hands with glee as Jews help them try to chip away at one of the critical pillars of the U.S.-Israel relationship, our shared values.

In truth, Israeli democracy is secure and thriving. The contrast with its neighbors is even more glaring today than ever before as Arab states such as Yemen and Syria descend into tribal, religious and civil wars, autocracies such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain brutally crackdown on dissenters and supposedly democratic revolutions in places such as Egypt fizzle and bring to power radical Islamists for whom freedom and democracy are anathemas.

Israel’s Basic Law for Human Dignity and Liberty, one of a handful of laws that collectively serves as the de facto Israeli constitution, declares that “fundamental human rights in Israel are founded upon recognition of the value of the human being, the sanctity of human life, and the principle that all persons are free.”¹⁰⁹

Israeli government officials are elected by popular vote and Israel protects its citizens’ freedoms of expression, press, assembly and religion, as well as the rights of women, Arabs and minorities.¹¹⁰

In a region where homosexuality can be considered a capital crime, Israel has one of the most progressive records in the world related to the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. Israel’s annual Gay Pride Parade dates back to 1998 and, since 2002, there have been Pride Parades in Jerusalem. The Tel Aviv Pride Parade is the largest on the Asian continent with 100,000 participants from around the world.¹¹¹

Many organizations, including some internationally funded nongovernmental organizations, operate in Israel and pursue agendas that are highly critical of Israeli policies. Some of these perform useful watchdog functions while others appear more interested in undermining the state than improving it. Anger toward some of these groups prompted legislators to propose a variety of measures that some viewed as constraints on freedom of speech or otherwise anti-democratic. Israelis, however, used their democratic rights to oppose these measures and none have been adopted to date.¹¹²

When troubling issues arise, the democracy works the way it should. For example, when a woman was mistreated on a public bus by an Orthodox Jew, the free press reported the story, Israelis mobilized to fight against this type of behavior and the political leadership spoke out and said they would not tolerate it. This does not mean that such discrimination will disappear overnight, but the democratic forces inside Israel reacted as they should.¹¹³

The political left and right routinely complain about each other’s policies, but this is the nature of a healthy democracy. The political middle helps place checks on the extremists at both poles. Israel also has an independent judiciary that helps ensure Israel’s democratic principles and its laws are upheld.

Israel’s democracy, like other democracies, is not perfect. It still has a distance to go before all people are treated equally in practice as well as in law. The United States faces similar struggles after nearly three centuries of independence; should we be surprised that Israel has not solved the same problems in its first 64 years?

Israelis do not need to be told by outsiders, Jewish or otherwise, how to sustain their democracy. They have learned how to protect their security and their civil rights in a dangerous neighborhood. Israeli democracy isn’t always pretty, but it works.

"As the only regional democracy with a constitutional culture strong enough to sustain its political structure, Israel is a crucially situated outpost of the West." — Ruth Wisse, Harvard Yiddish literature professor 114

MYTH

"Iran is the only Muslim nation in the Middle East seeking to develop nuclear technology." ^top

FACT

Those who argue that the world can live with a nuclear Iran ignore the likelihood that a nuclear arms race is likely to ensue in the Middle East, which will exponentially increase the danger to the region and beyond. The cost of stopping Iran’s drive for a bomb, therefore, must be balanced with the benefit of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

At least 12 Middle Eastern nations have either announced plans to explore atomic energy or signed nuclear cooperation agreements since the exposure of the Iranian program. Like Iran, they say they are interested in only “peaceful uses” of nuclear technology.

The Saudis have been quite explicit about the impact an Iranian bomb will have on their security. “If Iran develops a nuclear weapon,” an official close to Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal said in June 2011, “that will be unacceptable to us and we will have to follow suit.”¹¹⁵ In January 2012, Saudi King Abdullah signed an agreement with China for cooperation in the development and use of atomic energy for civilian purposes. ¹¹⁶

In January 2011, Egypt’s prime minister reaffirmed his country’s plan to construct its first nuclear power plant in the coast city of El-Dabaa.¹¹⁷ In 2009, the United Arab Emirates accepted a $20 billion bid from a South Korean consortium to build four nuclear power reactors by 2020.¹¹⁸

Jordan has cooperation agreements related to building nuclear power infrastructure with South Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Romania, Turkey and Argentina. Kuwait has agreements with the U.S., Russia, and Japan. In 2010, Qatar raised the possibility of a regional project for nuclear generation. Algeria has one of the most advanced nuclear science programs in the Arab world and is considering the role that nuclear power could play in its domestic energy generation. Two years ago, Oman signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia.¹¹⁹

The international community does not have a good record in preventing rogue nations from developing nuclear weapons, despite arms inspections, sanctions and other measures aimed at reassuring the public. Iraq was believed to be developing a bomb when Israel destroyed its nuclear reactor in 1981.¹²⁰ Similarly, Syria managed to build a secret nuclear facility under the nose of the international watchdogs and was stopped only by an Israeli military operation.¹²¹

President Barack Obama illustrated the danger of a nuclear Iran vis-à-vis the nuclear arms race it would spur: “It will not be tolerable to a number of states in that region for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and them not to have a nuclear weapon. Iran is known to sponsor terrorist organizations, so the threat of proliferation becomes that much more severe,” Obama said. “The dangers of an Iran getting nuclear weapons that then leads to a free-for-all in the Middle East is something that I think would be very dangerous for the world.”¹²²

The task of eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat and the proliferation that will follow should not be the responsibility of Israel. It is true that Israel is the one state that Iran has threatened to wipe off the map, but the Arab states are also on the front line and petrified of a nuclear Iran. This is why the Saudis explicitly called for a military attack on Iran.¹²³ A nuclear arms filled Middle East, however, will ultimately pose a threat to global peace and stability. International action is needed to ensure that Iran does not get the bomb and set in motion the nuclearization of the Middle East.

MYTH

"Women do not have equal rights in Israel." ^top

FACT

Israel is widely considered among the world’s most progressive nations in defending the inalienable rights of women.

Israel’s Declaration of Independence – calling for the equal treatment of Israeli citizens regardless of race, religion, or gender – stands as a beacon of civility, freedom, and justice in a region where women are denied many basic freedoms by the rule of law.¹²⁴

In fact, Israel was one of the first countries in the world to be led by a female head of state. From 1969 to 1974, Golda Meir served as Israel’s Prime Minister, setting the stage for future generations of women to follow in her political footsteps.¹²⁵ Today, 24 women serve in the 120-member Knesset, a higher proportion than sit in the U.S. Congress.¹²⁶ Three women also are ministers in the Israeli cabinet – Sofa Landver, Orit Noked, and Limor Livnat.¹²⁷ Additionally, the leaders of two of Israel’s three major political parties - Kadima and Labor - are both women, Tzipi Livni and Shelly Yachimovich, respectively.¹²⁸

Three of the twelve Israeli Supreme Court Justices are women, and the recently resigned President of the Supreme Court was also a woman, Dorit Beinisch.¹²⁹ Moreover, women now comprise a majority of judges throughout Israel.¹³⁰

The Israel Women’s Lobby was formed in 1984 to encourage the involvement of women in shaping legislation and influencing the policy of decision-makers. In the 1990s, a new group, Ahoti, was founded to empoower disadvantaged women, particularly Mizrahim (women from Arab countries), Ethiopians, and Arab Israelis.¹³¹

Another important litmus test of the status of women in any country is the degree of gender equality in the labor market. In Israel, approximately 50 percent of women participate in the workforce, a number that compares favorably internationally.¹³² In terms of equal economic participation for women in the workforce, Israel was ranked 15th out of 31 nations in Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania, by the International Labor Organization.¹³³

Women also play a crucial role in defending the state. Service in the Israel Defense Forces is compulsory for both men and women – women serve for twenty-four months, men for thirty-six months. Today, women take active roles in all units of the IDF, including combat units and the air force.¹³⁴ In October 2011, 27 female combat soldiers completed the IDF Ground Forces Officers Training Course, and in December 2011, five female pilots graduated from the Israeli Air Force’s elite Flight Academy.¹³⁵

In addition to preparing for war, Israeli women are also active in the pursuit of peace. A law was adopted in 2005 mandating adequate representation of women in peace negotiating teams. Other women are active in groups such as Peace Now and Women in Black, which advocate Israeli withdrawal from the disputed territories, Bat Shalom, an organization of Jewish, Palestinian, and Arab women that encourage Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, and Women in Green, which views settlements as an asset to Israeli security.¹³⁶

Israel is also working to advance the status of women around the world. Since 1961, the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) has been training women in Africa and Asia. The center’s courses, workshops, study tours and seminars in Israel and in partner countries raise awareness of gender bias and the need for gender-sensitive policy decisions. Since its establishment, 17,500 participants from more than 150 countries have attended programs related to Community Development, Early Childhood Education and Organization, and Management of Microenterprises.¹³⁷

Like the United States, Israel has not yet achieved perfect gender equality in all spheres of society. Nevertheless, great strides have been made toward that end. In a region where Egyptian “democracy” protestors attacked and raped women, the Saudi monarchy practices gender apartheid, and other Arab states tolerate “honor killings" and other abuses directed at women, Israel offers a model for those Arabs who believe in liberty and justice for all.¹³⁸

MYTH

"Israel's policy of targeted killings is immoral and counterproductive." ^top

FACT

On March 9, 2012, the Israeli Air Force targeted and killed two members of the Popular Resistance Committee terror organization in the Gaza Strip, Zuhair al-Qaissi and a collaborator, who were preparing an attack against Israel.. Al-Qaissi was also responsible for planning the infiltration of Eilat from the Egyptian Sinai in August 2011 in which eight Israelis, including six civilians, were brutally murdered, as well as Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping in 2006.¹³⁹

Israel is faced with the difficult task of protecting its civilian population from Palestinians who are prepared to blow themselves up to murder innocent Jews as well as terror groups that indiscriminately fire rockets into Israeli towns. One strategy for dealing with the problem has been to pursue negotiations to resolve all of the conflicts with the Palestinians and offer to trade land for peace and security. After Israel gave up much of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and offered virtually all of the remainder, however, the Palestinians chose to use violence to try to force Israel to capitulate to all their demands.

A second strategy is for Israel to “exercise restraint,” that is, not respond to Palestinian terror. The international community lauds Israel when it turns the other cheek after heinous attacks. While this restraint might win praise from world leaders, it does nothing to assuage the pain of the victims or to prevent further attacks.

“The assassination of Hamas head Sheik Ahmed Yassin in 2004 played in the world as the killing of a crippled holy man by Israeli rockets as he was leaving the mosque in a wheelchair after morning prayers. Because of secrecy surrounding the operation, no file was prepared to explain why he was being killed, that he was an arch-terrorist who had, two days previously, sent two Gaza suicide bombers into Ashdod Port in an attempt to cause a mega-blast of the fuel and nitrates stored there. Or that he had been directly responsible for the deaths of scores, if not hundreds of Israelis.” — Hirsh Goodman, columnist 140

Moreover, the same nations that urge Israel to exercise control have often reacted forcefully when put in similar situations. For example, the British assassinated Nazis after World War II and targeted IRA terrorists in Northern Ireland. In April 1986, after the U.S. determined that Libya had directed the terrorist bombing of a West Berlin discotheque that killed one American and injured 200 others, it launched a raid on a series of Libyan targets, including President Muammar Qaddafi’s home. Qaddafi escaped, but his infant daughter was killed and two of his other children were wounded. President Reagan justified the action as self-defense against Libya’s state-sponsored terrorism. “As a matter of self-defense, any nation victimized by terrorism has an inherent right to respond with force to deter new acts of terror. I felt we must show Qaddafi that there was a price he would have to pay for that kind of behavior and that we wouldn’t let him get away with it.”¹⁴¹

More recently, the Obama Administration has used drones to kill Taliban fighters and terrorists and found and killed bin Laden in 2011.¹⁴²

"The Israeli targeted assassinations against Palestinian resistance groups, especially against their leaders, is very effective. It is definitely a policy that aims at paralyzing these groups and stopping them from carrying out future attacks against Israel.” - Mukhaimer Abu Saada, professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City 143

Israel has chosen a third option for defending itself—eliminating the masterminds of terror attacks.

In 2006, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that “it cannot be determined in advance that every targeted killing is prohibited according to customary international law, just as it cannot be determined in advance that every targeted killing is permissible according to customary international law."¹⁴⁴

Targeting the terrorists has a number of benefits. First, it places a price on terror: Israelis can’t be attacked with impunity anymore, for terrorists know that if they target others, they will become targets themselves. Second, it is a method of self-defense: pre-emptive strikes eliminate the people who would otherwise murder Israelis. While it is true that there are others to take their place, they can do so only with the knowledge they too will become targets, and leaders are not easily replaceable. Third, it throws the terrorists off balance. Extremists can no longer nonchalantly plan an operation; rather, they must stay on the move, look over their shoulders at all times, and work much harder to carry out their goals.

Of course, the policy also has costs. Besides international condemnation, Israel risks revealing informers who often provide the information needed to find the terrorists. Soldiers also must engage in sometimes high-risk operations that occasionally cause tragic collateral damage to property and persons.

The most common criticism of “targeted killings” is that they do no good because they perpetuate a cycle of violence whereby the terrorists seek revenge. This is probably the least compelling argument against the policy, because the people who blow themselves up to become martyrs could always find a justification for their actions. They are determined to bomb the Jews out of the Middle East and will not stop until their goal is achieved.

CASE STUDY: In August 2002, we had all the leadership of Hamas—Sheik Yassin and all his military commanders ... in one room in a three-story house and we knew we needed a 2,000-pound bomb to eliminate all of them—the whole leadership, 16 people, all the worst terrorists. Think about having Osama bin Laden and all the top leadership of al-Qaeda in one house. However, due to the criticism in Israeli society and in the media, and due to the consequences of innocent Palestinians being killed, a 2,000-pound bomb was not approved and we hit the building with a much smaller bomb. There was a lot of dust, a lot of noise, but they all got up and ran away and we missed the opportunity. So the ethical dilemmas are always there. 145

MYTH

"Israel does not support humanitarian development and sustainablity in the Palestinian territories." ^top

FACT

Despite intolerable security threats, a surge in terrorism, and a stymied peace process, the government of Israel continues to support the Palestinian people and invest in their future by providing crucial medical, security, and economic assistance aimed at enhancing their quality of life.

With the Palestinian Authority facing dire financial difficulties in 2011 due to a shortfall in international donations and budget mismanagement, Israel stepped up its economic collaboration to help sustain and stabilize the Palestinian economy. In concrete terms, Israel transferred more than 5 million shekels in tax revenues to the PA - an increase of nearly 6 percent from 2010, Israeli purchases from the PA rose by almost 20 percent to $815.9 million, and Israeli trade with the PA grew to nearly $4.4 billion. Additionally, Israel provided more than 57,000 permits for Palestinians to work in Israel and for Israeli companies in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also adopted measures, together with the Middle East Quartet, that will help the PA better balance their budget, increase tax collection from Gaza, and reform its revenue collection system to minimize losses.¹⁴⁶

Israeli security cooperation with the Palestinians has also improved in the past year. Israel agreed to help expand the Palestinian security presence in a number of cities in the West Bank and is working to build at least seven new Palestinian police stations. Nearly 1,000 meetings were held in the last year between Israeli and Palestinian security forces to collaborate on methods for counter-terrorism, gathering evidence for crimes, addressing drug trafficking, and combating auto theft. Moreover, despite a 10 percent surge in terrorist attacks in 2011, the IDF further eased movement for the Palestinian people by dismantling three permanent checkpoints. Israel has now removed 30 checkpoints in the West Bank since 2009, leaving only 11, and measures were also made to ensure that the remaining checkpoints operate more efficiently to reduce travel delays, especially during times of religious worship and Muslim holidays.¹⁴⁷

Israel also continues to ensure that Palestinians get proper medical treatment. Last year, 206,958 Palestinian patients from the West Bank and Gaza were treated in Israeli hospitals, an increase of 11 percent over 2010. Many of these patients received life-saving care such as chemotherapy and radiation treatment, organ transplant surgeries, or special birthing procedures that were unavailable to them in the territories. In addition, Israel hosted more than 100 training sessions for medical teams from the West Bank to learn both basic and more advanced treatment methods.¹⁴⁸

While much of the world provides lip service to the Palestinian cause, Israel continues to be one of the only true lifelines for the Palestinian people. Despite little interest from Palestinian leaders to return to peace negotiations or clamp down on terrorism from Gaza, Israel is boosting the Palestinian economy, improving security for both Palestinians and Israelis, and providing world-class medical care for residents of the territories. Israel continues to meet all of its obligations under the various bilateral agreements – including stipulations for providing water, sanitation, and electricity to the PA – yet it gets little recognition for its efforts at maintaining the Palestinian quality of life.

MYTH

"Israel is whitewashing history to promote the judaization of Jerusalem." ^top

FACT

Jerusalem is not only the modern day capital of the State of Israel; it was also the biblical capital of the Jewish nation. In the thousands of years that have passed since King David conquered Jerusalem, and in spite of forced exiles, violent revolts, and countless wars, Jews have continuously lived in the holy city and kept it central to Jewish tradition. The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem, from prayer and philosophy to settlement, is unmistakable and unbreakable. Even so, the Israeli government has never tried to whitewash the rich Islamic and Christian histories in Jerusalem to promote a vision of the city as Jewish-only. In fact, this cultural and religious diversity is very much celebrated, and allegations to the contrary are not only patently false, but blatantly incendiary and anti-Semitic.

Defined as a unique form of ethnicization that relies on obliterating Palestinian identity, disenfranchising Jerusalem’s non-Jewish residents, and strategically extending Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries so as to incorporate Jewish areas, claims of “judaization” constitute yet another calculated attempt to garner international condemnation of Israel. Proponents of this theory charge Israel with attempting to imbue Jewish religious value on Islamic shrines and engaging in ethnic cleansing to rid the city of Arabs.¹⁴⁹ As Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asserted, "The Israeli occupation authorities are using the ugliest and most dangerous means to implement plans to erase and remove [Jerusalem’s] Arab-Islamic and the Christian character."¹⁵⁰

As in other smear campaigns orchestrated by Palestinian officials, the truth is quite different than the propaganda.

Jews have constituted the majority of Jerusalem’s population since at least 1844, but the Arab population has been exponentially growing since Israel reunited the city in 1967. Far from “cleansing” the city of Arabs, Israeli authorities have watched the Arab population increase by 291 percent, nearly doubling the Jewish growth rate.¹⁵¹ While the media only focuses on the approval for construction of Jewish homes, in 2009 the Jerusalem Municipality began the subsidized construction of more than 5,000 housing units in the city’s predominantly Arab neighborhoods of Tel Adasa, Sawahara, Beit Safafa, and Jabal Mukabar.¹⁵² An additional 2,500 homes were approved for these same neighborhoods in 2011.¹⁵³ Furthermore, the Israeli government does not impede legal Arab construction and the Jerusalem municipal laws allow for anyone, regardless of race or religion, to buy private land anywhere in the city.¹⁵⁴

Whereas Jordan destroyed and defiled Jewish holy places during its 19-year occupation of Jerusalem, Israel has scrupulously protected all shrines in the city. While Abbas and other Palestinians reinvent history and try to diminish the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, Israeli leaders have never made any attempt to deny the linkage that exists between Christians and Muslims with the city. The Israeli “Protection of Holy Places Law of 1967” ensures that all holy sites are open to whoever wishes to use them, and criminalizes any vandalization of such sites.¹⁵⁵ Muslims freely worship at the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, and Christians are openly welcomed to pray at the more than 300 churches in and around Jerusalem.¹⁵⁶

Thousands of Arab students attend Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, hundreds of thousands of Arabs are served equally in Jerusalem’s medical facilities, Arab citizens vote freely in Israeli political elections, and a plurality of East Jerusalem residents routinely tell pollsters they actually prefer to live under Israeli rule in the city.¹⁵⁷ Jerusalem remains one of the freest and most open cities in the entire Middle East for people of all faiths, creeds, and colors.

Jews have a 3,000-year connection with Jerusalem, but Israel does not attempt to utilize this historical relationship to wipe out the Palestinian narrative from the city’s history. The Palestinians cannot wish away Jewish history or succeed in reaching their goals by fabricating claims of the “judaization” of Jerusalem. If they wish to change their political status in the city, they will have to enter negotiations with Israel and form an agreement that both sides accept. However, the recognition of the Jewish historical ties to the city and Jerusalem’s legal status as Israel’s capital cannot be open for debate.

MYTH

"The State Department knows the capital of Israel ." ^top

FACT

American students are often ridiculed for their poor knowledge of geography, but the government institution responsible for U.S. foreign policy would be expected to have a better handle on such basic questions as the capitals of the nations of the world.

Apparently, however, the State Department is unable to identify the capital of the State of Israel.

The following exchange took place on March 28, 2012, between State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland and a reporter:

QUESTION: Yesterday there was a bit of a kerfuffle over an announcement that was made by the department about the travel of your boss … Is it the State Department's position that Jerusalem is not part of Israel?

MS. NULAND: Well, you know that our position on Jerusalem has not changed …. With regard to our Jerusalem policy, it's a permanent-status issue; it’s got to be resolved through the negotiations between the parties.

Q: Is it the view of the United States that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, notwithstanding the question about the embassy -- the location of the U.S. embassy?

MS. NULAND: We are not going to prejudge the outcome of those negotiations, including the final status of Jerusalem.

Q Does that mean that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?

MS. NULAND: Jerusalem is a permanent-status issue. It's got to be resolved through negotiations.

Q: That seems to suggest that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Is that correct or not?

MS. NULAND: I have just spoken to this issue … and I have nothing further to say on it ….

Q: What is the capital of Israel?

MS. NULAND: Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is it has to be solved through negotiations. That’s all I have to say on this issue.

Q: What is the capital of Israel?

MS. NULAND: Our embassy, as you know, is located in Tel Aviv.

Q: So does that mean you regard Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel?

MS. NULAND: The issue on Jerusalem has to be settled through negotiations.

…

Q: I just want to go back to -- I want to clarify something … Perhaps give you an “out" on your Jerusalem answer. Is it your position that all of Jerusalem is a final-status issue, or do you think - or is it just East Jerusalem?

MS. NULAND: Matt, I don't have anything further to what I've said 17 times on that subject. OK?

Q: All right. So hold on. So, I just want to make sure. You're saying that all of Jerusalem, not just East Jerusalem, is a final-status issue.

MS. NULAND: Matt, I don't have anything further on Jerusalem to what I've already said. Please.¹⁵⁸

It seems clear from this exchange that the U.S. State Department does not know where the capital of Israel is located and refuses even to recognize West Jerusalem, an area never “occupied” or claimed by the Palestinians, as the capital of Israel.

Jerusalem is not only the biblical heart of the Jewish nation, but it is also the modern day, political capital of the State of Israel. This was consecrated by Israel's founders and further cemented by Israel's Basic Laws. Future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians may change the status of East Jerusalem, but, in the interests of peace, it is crucial that United States leaders categorically and unwaveringly recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State of Israel.

MYTH

"Israeli policy has caused an exodus of Christians from the West Bank." ^top

FACT

Palestinian Christians often suffer because they are stuck in the middle of the conflict created by Palestinian Muslims’ unwillingness to live in peace with a Jewish state. While the Christian Arab population in Israel has grown and prospered, the Palestinian Christian population is discriminated against by Palestinian leaders, particularly Hamas in Gaza, for reasons unrelated to the political dispute with Israel. Specious media reports, including Bob Simon's “60 Minutes” report, have ignored this reality and instead accused Israel of harming the Christian community and provoking a mass exodus from the West Bank over the past four decades.

In a 2009 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) wrote that Christians are a “dwindling community” in the disputed territories because they have been “disproportionately affected by … [Israeli] occupation.”¹⁵⁹ Bob Simon’s “60 Minutes” report echoed these allegations, noting “a real possibility” that the area will become a Christian “spiritual theme park, a great place for tourists but not for Arab Christians” because of “burgeoning Israeli settlements” and “the wall that completely surrounds" the area.¹⁶⁰

The facts, however, indicate a different story. The “wall” Simon refers to is the 470 mile security barrier Israel erected to protect its citizens - Jews and Arabs, Christians and Muslims - from Palestinian terrorist infiltrations. Only about 5 percent of the barrier is a concrete wall, the rest is a chain-link fence. The fence does create hardships for Palestinians in some places, however, these inconveniences pale in comparison to the loss of life resulting from terrorist attacks prior to the fence's completion. The Israeli courts and government have also taken steps to minimize the problems the fence causes. If the Palestinians put a permanent stop to terror and sign a peace agreement with Israel, the fence will cease to be an issue.

Additionally, the notion that settlements somehow drive Christians out of the territories is typical of the American misperception that for every Jew who moves to the West Bank, Palestinians must pick up and leave. If Simon had traveled through the area or simply looked at a map, he could have easily seen that the Jewish settlements do not encroach on the places where Palestinian Christians live. The largest Christian neighborhoods in the West Bank – in and around Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jenin –do not have any Jews living in them or settlements interfering with the lives of Christians.¹⁶¹

While some Christians have indeed fled the Palestinian-controlled territories to avoid the conflict and Muslim persecution, the overall number of Christians in these areas has actually steadily increased since 1967. Today, the Christian population of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, stands at approximately 52,000 - its highest total since 1945.¹⁶² The Christian proportion of the population in the territories, however, has significantly declined - from around 15% to 2% - primarily due to the exponential growth in the Muslim population of the region.¹⁶³

It is particularly hypocritical for Simon and otheres to feign concern for Christians in Israel and the territories while consistently ignoring the plight of Christians in Arab countries, where they have long faced persecution. It is especially galling now that Christian communities across the Middle East are facing uncertainty and insecurity in the face of Muslim extremism in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.

Condemning Israel for the plight of the Palestinian Christians misses the true root of their predicament - official mistreatment by the Palestinian government. The Palestinian Authority relegates Christians to second-class status and has been openly hostile to its Christian minority.¹⁶⁴ The PA threatens Christians who wish to purchase land from Muslims, refuses economic assistance to Christian-owned businesses, and, in 2010, shut down Al-Mahed “Nativity” TV, the only Christian broadcast in the territories.¹⁶⁵ Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat even tried to erase Christian heritage by depicting Jesus as “the first radical Palestinian armed guerrilla.”¹⁶⁶

The PA has also routinely ignored terrorists who ransack and defile Christian holy places. In 2008, a bomb was detonated in the Christian Zahwa Rosary School in Gaza City and, in 2006, terrorists firebombed no fewer than five West Bank churches in response to a purported slight in a speech by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2002, nearly 200 armed Palestinian gunmen barricaded themselves insides Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity during Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield and took the priests and nuns inside hostage, a situation the Holy See condemned as a violation of religious tradition, the laws of war, and of the bilateral agreement with the PA to protect Manger Square.¹⁶⁷

In stark contrast, Christians in Israel are given official protection under the law. The Christian population of Israel has grown from fewer than 35,000 in 1948 to more than 150,000 today. Israeli Arab Christians today are, on average, more affluent and better-educated than Israeli Jews. As Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren noted, Israeli Christians are prominent in all aspects of Israeli life - serving in the Knesset and the Foreign Ministry, sitting on the Supreme Court, and even serving in the Israel Defense Forces even though they are officially exempt from military service.¹⁶⁸

Israel welcomes millions of Christians every year - in 2011, a record 3.5 million Christians tourists visited the Holy Land.¹⁶⁹ Additionally, Israel helps protect Christian holy sites and has upheld the “Status Quo Arrangement for Christian Holy Places in Jerusalem” which gives the Christian community full custody over the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Garden of Gethsemane, the fourteen Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, and other religious sites.¹⁷⁰

Christians see Israel as the one country that offers them protection against the rising sea of radical Islam in the Middle East.¹⁷¹ While the media and anti-Israel Christian groups focus on alleged deprivations of the Christians who are prospering in Israel, they continue to ignore the serious threats to their future posed by Islamists in the region.

MYTH

"The United States is committed to ensuring a complete halt to the Iranian nuclear program." ^top

FACT

In a surprising and significant move, the Obama administration has reportedly agreed to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium to the 5 percent purity mark in return for Iranian commitments to accept unrestricted inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stricter oversight by the international community, and nuclear safeguards long demanded by the United Nations. This concession is a retreat from the president’s previous declaration that “the United States must lead the world in working to stop Iran’s uranium enrichment program.”¹⁷²

Such a bargaining position would be problematic for a number of reasons. First, it violates Obama’s commitment to halt Iran’s enrichment program. It also undermines his pledge that he would not accept “a policy of containment” with regard to the Iranian nuclear program.¹⁷³ Second, it ignores the strong bipartisan sentiment in Congress calling for tougher legislation to force Iran to cease all enrichment programs.¹⁷⁴

The United States has agreed that Iran has a right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but this does not require any enrichment of uranium by the Iranians. Russia has already supplied Iran with a nuclear power facility that can meet its immediate needs, which are minimal given Iran’s vast oil reserves.

Negotiators appear desperate to reach some agreement with Iran in the hope of staving off a military attack to destroy Iran’s nuclear program. By agreeing to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium to the 5 percent purity concentration – agreed by scientists as the upper-end for civilian nuclear needs – the United States would be running the risk of giving the Iranians time to assemble the know-how and the infrastructure to develop a nuclear weapon at a later date. Obama would also be letting Iran evade the harshest of economic sanctions set to hit the country during the summer of 2012 before seeing if they will force Iran to give up its program entirely.

Uranium is considered weapons-grade at 90 percent purity, though anything enriched above the 20 percent level signifies a move toward weaponization, and the jump from 20 to 90 percent is deemed relatively easy.¹⁷⁵ At present, the majority of Iran’s uranium, about 5 tons, is enriched at the 5 percent level, but it has produced approximately 200 pounds at the 20 percent mark, demonstrating its ability to enrich to a higher level.¹⁷⁶ IAEA Secretary General Yukiya Amano affirmed that “what we know suggests [Iranian] development of nuclear weapons.”¹⁷⁷

To date, the Iranians have shown a willingness to string out negotiations while continuing their nuclear program. Talks end without an agreement while the Iranians move closer to building the bomb. As early as July 2006, the UN Security Council called on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment and implement transparency measures for its nuclear facilities; Iran refused.¹⁷⁸ In 2008, the P5-plus-1 (the U.S., Russia, China, France, U.K. and Germany) offered Iran technical and commercial incentives to freeze high-level enrichment; Iran not only rebuffed the offer, but vowed to cease cooperating with inspectors.¹⁷⁹ Now, after years of complacency by the West, why should anyone expect the Iranians to give up their nuclear ambitions or to adhere to any agreement they might sign? After all, Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty more than 40 years ago but still secretly disregarded the treaty’s terms and proceeded with nuclear weapons development.

Members of Congress, as well as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, have said that U.S. interests are threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. According to one source, the bipartisan opposition to the reported Obama compromise is so strong that any deal allowing continued Iranian enrichment "would be dead on arrival" in Congress.¹⁸⁰

The Iranians should be allowed to use uranium for peaceful energy generation but they do not need to do their own enrichment – fuel stocks can easily be purchased from a half dozen different countries or through the international Uranium Enrichment Consortium (URENCO).¹⁸¹

While a compromise with Iran may reduce the chance of a military strike on Iran in the short-run, it could easily result in a more dangerous situation in the long-run. The Iranians may use the time they are given to continue to make technological advances toward weapons development, as well as to better prepare their defenses.

The understandable desire to forestall the need to take military action should not be an excuse for appeasement. The United States must not back down from its insistence that the Iranian nuclear program be permanently shut down. If an agreement is reached to end the program, it must be scrupulously monitored. Negotiators should remember Ronald Reagan’s adage with regard to negotiations with the Soviet Union – trust but verify.

MYTH

"Israel's new unity government reduces the prospect for continued peace negotiations with the Palestinians." ^top

FACT

On May 8, 2012, Israeli Prime Minister and Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu joined with Shaul Mofaz, recently elected head of the opposition Kadima Party, to announce the formation of a new coalition government. Brokered with the support of more than two-thirds of the 120 members of the Knesset, the new unity government not only staves off early elections and the dissolution of the Parliament, but it also represents a unique opportunity for the government to enter into peace talks with the Palestinian Authority while backed by the support of a broad spectrum of Israel's political leaders.

The new coalition, Israel's largest since 1984, has a number of priorties, including bridging the wealth gap, improving the economy, creating a new law to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews for national service, and determining a response to Iran's nuclear program. Netanyahu and Mofaz also immediately expressed a desire to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians without preconditions. Mofaz said that the new government could reach an "historic territorial compromise with our Palestinian neighbors," while Netanyahu called on PA President Mahmoud Abbas to "use this opportunity to resume the peace talks." ¹⁸²

Netanyahu's inner political circle now has a peace and security coalition that includes three former IDF chiefs-of-staff - Mofaz, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon - who have advocated compromise with the Palestinians. In 2000, Barak offered to withdraw from most of the territories and create a Palestinian state.¹⁸³ Similarly, Mofaz has also called for an aggressive approach to the peace process that would lead to an evacuation from many Jewish settlements and most of the West Bank.¹⁸⁴

Given the security credentials of Mofaz and Barak, the unity government gives Netanyahu the broad legitimacy and stability necessary to take risks for peace with the Palestinians. The Palestinians, however, may not recognize the political earthquake that occurred in Jerusalem and the opportunity it presents for negotiating a two-state solution. Abbas' first reaction was to declare: "I will not return to the negotiations without freezing settlement activities," and to once again threaten to seek UN recognition if Israel does not capitulate to his demands.¹⁸⁵

We will soon learn if the Palestinians will once again demonstrate their proclivity for never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

 

“MYTH

Palestinians no longer object to the creation of Israel.”

FACT

While Israelis used April and May 2012 to celebrate their 64th year of independence, Palestinians marked the establishment of Israel by mourning the very creation of the Jewish State. On May 15, ceremonies for what the Palestinians call "Nakba Day" ("The Catastrophe," in Arabic) spawned a number of small but violent protests against Israeli security personnel in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and other major cities.¹⁸⁶ Sadly, if the Palestinians and the Arab states had accepted the partition resolution of 1947, the Palestinain people would also be celebrating their 64th independence day right alongside the Israelis.

Palestinians are understandably bitter about their history over the decades, but we are often told that what they object to today is the “occupation” of the territories Israel captured in 1967. If that is true, then why isn’t "Nakba Day" celebrated in June on the anniversary of the Arab defeat in the Six-Day War when Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip?

The reason is that the Palestinians consider the creation of Israel the original sin, and their focus on that event is indicative of a refusal, even today, to reconcile themselves with the Jewish State. This is why Hamas has never left any doubt about its refusal to accept Israel’s existence through its unwavering commitment to the Hamas Covenant which calls for the destruction of Israel. ¹⁸⁷ Even Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a purported moderate, describes of the decision to create a Jewish state in 1948 as a crime. ¹⁸⁸

It may be that the current leadership does not truly represent the feelings of the Palestinian people. A January 2012 poll found that nearly 60 percent of the Palestinian public oppose a return to armed resistance against Israel to obtain independence while 58 percent support returning to exploratory peace talks with Israel.¹⁸⁹  This is a hopeful sign; however, as long as the Palestinian Authority treats Israel’s creation as a catastrophe, and its leaders refuse to negotiate, the prospects for coexistence will remain bleak.

“Palestine means Palestine in its entirety—from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River, from Ras Al-Naqura to Rafah. We cannot give up a single inch of it. Therefore, we will not recognize the Israeli enemy’s [right] to a single inch.” — Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar 190

"My friends, the root of this conflict never was a Palestinian state, or lack thereof. The root of the conflict is, and always has been, [Palestinian] refusal to recognize the Jewish state. It is not a conflict over 1967, but over 1948, over the very existence of the State of Israel. You must have noticed that yesterday's events did not occur on June 5, the anniversary of the Six Day War. They occurred on May 15, the day the State of Israel was established. The Palestinians regard this day, the foundation of the State of Israel, [as] their nakba, their catastrophe. But their catastrophe was that they did not have a leadership that was willing to reach a true historic compromise between the Palestinian people and the Jewish people." — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister 191

Notes ^top

¹ Dan Izenberg, "Analysis: Is There a Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza", Jerusalem Post, (March 22, 2010).
² Rotem Caro Weizman, "Red Cross Official: There is No Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza", Israel Defense Forces, (April 20, 2011).
³ Yaakov Lappin, "Red Cross: There is No Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza", Jerusalem Post, (April 21, 2011).
⁴ Coordinator of Government Activities, "Developments in Policy Towards the West Bank and Gaza in 2010", Israel Defense Forces, (March 17, 2011).
⁵ Wire Staff, "US Warns Against New Gaza Flotilla Plans", Reuters, (June 24, 2011).
⁶ Editorial Staff, "The Floating Gaza Strip Show", Washington Times, (June 27, 2011).
⁷ Reuters Wire, "Cyprus Bans All Sailings to Gaza Ahead of Flotilla Plan", Reuters Canada, (June 23, 2011).
⁸ Barak Ravid, "Israel Fears Gaza Flotilla Activists May Try to Kill IDF Soldiers", HaAretz, (June 27, 2011).
⁹ Yousef al-Helou, "Miles of Smiles Aid Convoy Enters Gaza", PressTV, (June 19, 2011).
¹⁰ Factsheets, "Government Officials Against the Flotilla", NGO Monitor, (May 29, 2011).
¹¹ Neil MacFarquhar and Ethan Bronner, "Report Finds Naval Blockade by Israel Legal but Faults Raid", The New York Times, (September 1, 2011).
¹² Prime Minister's Office, "Prime Minister's Office accouncement following publication of Palmer Report by UN Secretary General," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (September 3, 2011).
¹³ Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President Alvaro Uribe, Joseph Ciechanover Itzhar, Suleyman Ozdem Sanberk, "Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla Incident," The United Nations, (September 2011).
¹⁴ Khaled Abu Toameh, “Abbas: Israel’s ‘intransigence’ forcing us to the UN,” The Jerusalem Post, (September 7, 2011).
¹⁵ AFP, “EU may 'draft own resolution on Palestinian UN bid',” Yahoo News, (September 3, 2011).
¹⁶ Steven Rosen, “The Palestinians' Imaginary State,” Foreign Policy, (August 3, 2011).
¹⁷ Larry Grossman, “AJC Briefing: The Perils of UDI,” The American Jewish Committee, (September 2011).
¹⁸ Irwin Cotler, “The time isn't right for statehood bid,” The Montreal Gazette, (September 8, 2011).
¹⁹ DPA, “U.S.: We will stop aid to Palestinians if UN bid proceeds,” Haaretz, (August 26, 2011).
²⁰ Associated Press Staff, “EU: Palestinian state vote could be 'dangerous',” Cnsnews.com, (June 14, 2011).
²¹ Oren Dorell, “PLO ambassador says Palestinian state should be free of Jews,” USA TODAY, (September 14, 2011).
²² Khaled Abu Toameh, “Abbas Vows: No Room for Israelis in Palestinian state,” The Jerusalem Post, December 25, 2010.
²³ Alan Dershowitz, “Push for Palestinian state at UN must be rejected: It will hurt Arabs and Jews alike,” New York Daily News, September 21, 2011.
²⁴ VOA News, “Israel Considers Response to UNESCO Vote,” Voice of America, November 1, 2011.
²⁵ Democratic Underground, “PA Official: Abbas expects US pressure to push out Netanyahu,” May 29, 2009.
²⁶ Jeffrey Heller and John Irish, “I sraeli settlement freeze ends, peace talks in balance,” Reuters, September 27, 2010.
²⁷ Condoleezza Rice, “No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Time in Washington,” Crown Publishers: 2011.
²⁸ Condoleezza Rice, “Best. Deal. Ever,” The Daily Beast, October 23, 2011.
²⁹ Israel Harel, “The IDF, now part of Mahmoud Abbas’ fan club,” Haaretz, October 27, 2011.
³⁰ Itamar Marcus and Nan Jaques Zilberdik, “Abbas glorifies terrorist prisoners,” Palestinian Media Watch, November 1, 2011.
³¹ Associated Press, “Palestinian leader meets woman who aided 2001 killing of Israeli teen; Israel irked,” Washington Post, December 21, 2011.
³² Mark Landler, “Obama and Abbas: From Speed Dial to Not Talking,” New York Times, September 9, 2011.
³³ Yoel Marcus, “Abbas must choose to seek peace deal with Israel,” Haaretz, October 28, 2011.
³⁴ Director General, “Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” International Atomic Energy Agency, November 8, 2011.
³⁵ David E. Sanger, “America’s Deadly Dynamics with Iran,” New York Times, November 5, 2011.
³⁶ Susan Rosenbluth, “Good News in Israel: Best Economy in the West, Energy Independence, and Maybe Future Exports,” The Jewish Voice and Opinion, January 13, 2011.
³⁷ Zachary A. Goldfarb, “S&P Downgrades U.S. credit rating for first time," Washington Post, August 6, 2011.
³⁸ Nadav Shemer, “S&P raises Israel’s credit rating from A to A+,” Jerusalem Post, Sept. 9, 2011.
³⁹ Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,“History of the OECD,” 2011.
⁴⁰ “Economic Highlights: 3rd Quarter 2011,” State of Israel Ministry of Finance International Affairs Department, September 2011.
⁴¹ World Economic Forum, “The Global Competitiveness Index 2011-2012 rankings,” 2011.
⁴² Reuters, “Gaza: Luxury hotel hosts freed terrorists,” YNet, October 19, 2011.
⁴³ Yaniv Kubovich, Avi Issacharoff, Nir Hasson, Gili Cohen and Eli Ashkenazi, “Palestinian prisoners return to heroes’ welcome,” Haaretz, October 19, 2011.
⁴⁴ Editorial, “Israeli-Palestinian Prisoner Swap Offers Little New Hope for Peace,” Washington Post, October 19, 2011.
⁴⁵ Nidal al-Mughrabi, “Would-be bomber tells Gaza children to be like her,” Reuters, October 19, 2011.
⁴⁶ Adrian Blomfield, “Freed Palestinian Prisoner Vows to “Sacrifice” Her Life,” Telegraph, October 19, 2011.
⁴⁷ IPT News, “Released Hamas Terrorists Pledge More Violence,” October 27, 2011.
⁴⁸ Middle East Media Research Institute, “Released Terrorist Muhammad Abu Ataya, Sentenced to 16 Life Terms in Prison, Brandishes Gun and Says: Netanyahu ‘Will Not Deter Us from Continuing the Journey of Resistance,’” MEMRI video clip, October 20, 2011.
⁴⁹ Stephen Farrell, “On the Day After, Moving Ahead and Looking Back,” New York Times, October 19, 2011.
⁵⁰ Malkah Fleisher, “Hamas: Temple Mount Gate Closure is ‘Declaration of War,’” The Jewish Press, December 13, 2011.
⁵¹Matti Friedman, “Citing public safety, Israel orders closure of controversial walkway in Jerusalem’s Old City,” Associated Press, December 12, 2011.
⁵² Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “In the Context of Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem, IOF Close Bab al-Maghariba in Anticipation of Altering the City’s Non Jewish Features,” December 13, 2011.
⁵³ Khaled Abu Toameh, “Bethlehem mayor calls for cultural boycott of Israel,” Jerusalem Post, December 16, 2011.
⁵⁴ Khaled Abu Toameh, “Fatah declares ‘war’ on normalization with Israel,” Jerusalem Post, December 17, 2011.
⁵⁵ Khaled Abu Toameh, "Protest again thwart Israeli-Palestinian meeting," Jerusalem Post, December 21, 2011.
⁵⁶ Nelson Mandela, “Mandela in his own words,” CNN, June 26, 2008.
⁵⁷ Attila Somfalvi, “Erekat: No negotiations yet,” YNet, January 2, 2012.
⁵⁸ Greg Sheridan, “Ehud Olmert still dreams of peace,” The Australian, November 28, 2009.
⁵⁹ Christine Parrish, “Sen. George Mitchell on Mid-East Peace Process,” The Free Press, November 17, 2011.
⁶⁰ Barry Rubin, “Hamas Openly Joins Brotherhood; Brotherhood Openly Joins Hamas’s War on Israel,” GLORIA Center, January 3, 2012.
⁶¹ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Palestinian ceasefire violations since the end of Operation Cast Lead,” MFA, January 4, 2012; DPA, “Hamas calls Israeli-Palestinian meeting a ‘farce,’ Haaretz, January 4, 2012.
⁶² Barak Ravid, Avi Assacharoff and Natasha Mozgovaya, “Palestinians plan diplomatic steps to put Israel under ‘international siege,’” Haaretz, January 2, 2012.
⁶³ Ibid.
⁶⁴ Israel Hayom Staff, “Abbas appoints terrorist released in Shalit deal as adviser,” Israel Hayom, January 2, 2012.
⁶⁵ Barak Ravid, Natasha Mozgovaya and the Associated Press, “Israeli, Palestinian envoys agree to meet in Jordan again next week,” Haaretz, January 3, 2012.
⁶⁶ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “107 Israel-PLO Mutual Recognition- Letters and Speeches- 10 September 1993,” MFA, September 10, 1993.
⁶⁷ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Fogel family stabbed to death in Itamar,” MFA, March 11, 2011.
⁶⁸ AFP, “British tourist killed by Jerusalem bomb,” AFP, March 24, 2011.
⁶⁹ Yair Altman, “Livnat: My nephew murdered by terrorists masked as policemen,” YNet, April 24, 2011.
⁷⁰ Ben Hartman and Jpost.com staff, “Defense Ministry: Asher Palmer, son were terror victims,” Jerusalem Post, September 28, 2011.
⁷¹ Yaakov Katz, “Border Police thwart major terror attack near Jenin,” Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2012.
⁷² Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Palestinian ceasefire violations since the end of Operation Cast Lead,” MFA, January 4, 2012.
⁷³ Haaretz Service, “Boy hurt in Gaza rocket attack on Israeli bus dies of his wounds,” Haaretz, April 17, 2011.
⁷⁴ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Eight killed, over 30 wounded in terror attacks in southern Israel,” MFA, August 18, 2011.
⁷⁵ Yaakov Lappin, “Man killed by Beersheba rocket named: Yossi Shoshan, 38,” Jerusalem Post, August 21, 2011.
⁷⁶ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Eliyahu Naim,” MFA, September 4, 2011.
⁷⁷ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Moshe Ami,” MFA, October 29, 2011.
⁷⁸ Yaakov Katz, “Analysis: A boiling pot waiting to explode,” Jerusalem Post, December 29, 2011.
⁷⁹ Walter Reich, “Saving Shalit, Encouraging Terror,” New York Times, October 18, 2011.
⁸⁰ Yaakov Katz, “IDF preparing for major Gaza action within months,” Jerusalem Post, January 16, 2012.
⁸¹ Ibid; Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Palestinian ceasefire violations since the end of Operation Cast Lead,” MFA, January 4, 2012.
⁸² AFP, “Israel raises alarm over Sinai-Gaza cooperation,” AFP, January 16, 2012; Roee Nahmias, “Blast hits Israel-Egypt gas pipeline for 7th time,” YNet, November 10, 2011.
⁸³ Nasouh Nazzal, “Palestine women’s ministry staff go on hunger strike,” Gulf News, January 18, 2012.
⁸⁴ Ibid.
⁸⁵ U.S. Department of State, “2009 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2010; U.S. Department of State, “2010 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, April 8, 2011.
⁸⁶ U.S. Department of State, “2010 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, April 8, 2011.
⁸⁷ U.S. Department of State, “2009 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2010.
⁸⁸ U.S. Department of State, “2010 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, April 8, 2011.
⁸⁹ U.S. Department of State, “2009 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2010; U.S. Department of State, “2010 Human Rights Report: Israel and the occupied territories,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, April 8, 2011.
⁹⁰ Khaled Abu Toameh, “Gaza cops use ‘beatings, stun guns’ on women reporters,” Jerusalem Post, March 28, 2011.
⁹¹ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Hamas Exploitation of Civilians,” MFA, January 13, 2009.
⁹² United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, “UN Women Brochure,” UN Women, February 18, 2011.
⁹³ Karin Laub, “Palestinian leader: Talks with Israel over,” AP, January 25, 2012.
⁹⁴ Evelyn Gordon, “So, You Think the Palestinians Are Interested in Negotiating?” Commentary, January 30, 2012.
⁹⁵ Avi Issacharoff, “PA to demand Barghouti release as part of renewed negotiations with Israel,” Haaretz, October 25, 2011.
⁹⁶ United Nations Department of Public Information, “Statement by Middle East Quartet,” United Nations, September 23, 2011.
⁹⁷ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Behind the headlines: The Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace,” MFA, January 4, 2010; Avi Issacharoff and Jack Khoury, “Abbas to lead Palestinian unity cabinet, following Hamas-Fatah deal,” Haaretz, February 6, 2012.
⁹⁸ Roi Kais, “PM: Probe Jerusalem mufti who encouraged killing of Jews,” YNet, January 22, 2012.
⁹⁹ Dan Williams, “Israel condemns Palestinian cleric over sermon,” Ma’an News Agency, January 22, 2012.
¹⁰⁰ AFP, “Hezbollah has 50,000 rockets, report,” AFP, December 7, 2010; Ethan Bronner, “Unity Deal Brings Risks for Abbas and Israel,” New York Times, February 6, 2012.
¹⁰¹ JTA, “Netanyahu blames Iran for attacks on diplomats in India, Georgia,” JTA, February 13, 2012; Panarat Thepgumpanat, “US Embassy warns of terrorist attack, Thai police arrest Hezbollah suspect,” Christian Science Monitor, February 13, 2012.
¹⁰² Jpost.com Staff, Herb Keinon and Reuters, “Thai officials: Attacks in Bangkok aimed at Israelis,” Jerusalem Post, February 14, 2012.
¹⁰³ Eli Shvidler, “Azerbaijan thwarts terror attack against Israeli, Jewish targets,” Haaretz, January 23, 2012.
¹⁰⁴ JTA, “Israeli diplomat’s wife injured by car bomb in New Delhi,” JTA, February 13, 2012.
¹⁰⁵ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Major Terror Attacks against Israeli Embassies and Representatives Abroad,” MFA, February 2012.
¹⁰⁶ JTA, “Jewish Agency gathers in Buenos Aires,” JTA, November 14, 2011.
¹⁰⁷ Jpost.com Staff, "FM: World must respond decisively to Iran attacks," Jerusalem Post, February 15, 2012.
¹⁰⁸ Roger Cohen, “The Dilemmas of Israeli Power,” New York Times, February 13, 2012.
¹⁰⁹ Knesset, “Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty,” Knesset, March 17, 1992.
¹¹⁰ Gerald Steinberg, “Israel’s Vibrant Democracy,” The Times of Israel, February 19, 2012.
¹¹¹ Consultado General De Israel Los Angeles, “Israel in the Community,” Consulate General of Israel Los Angeles, December 7, 2011.
¹¹² Gerald Steinberg, “Israel’s Vibrant Democracy,” The Times of Israel, February 19, 2012.
¹¹³ Daniella Cheslow, “Poster Child,” Tablet Magazine, January 9, 2012.
¹¹⁴ Ruth Wisse, Jews and Power, Schocken and Nextbook: New York, 2007, p. 184.
¹¹⁵ Jason Burke, “Riyadh will build nuclear weapons if Iran gets them, Saudi prince warns,” The Guardian, June 29, 2011.
¹¹⁶ Summer Said, “Saudi Arabia, China Sign Nuclear Cooperation Pact,” Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2012.
¹¹⁷ ESI-Africa.com, “Egypt’s el-Dabaa nuclear power station will go ahead,” ESI-Africa.com, January 20, 2012.
¹¹⁸ BBC, “South Korea awarded UAE nuclear power contract,” BBC, December 27, 2009.
¹¹⁹ World Nuclear Association, “Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries,” World Nuclear News, February 2012.
¹²⁰ Federation of American Scientists, Israel's Strike against the Iraqi Nuclear Reactor 7 June, 1981, Jerusalem: Menachem Begin Heritage Center, 2003.
¹²¹ Seymour M. Hersh, “A Strike in the Dark: Why did Israel bomb Syria?” The New Yorker, February 11, 2008.
¹²² Jeffrey Goldberg, “Obama to Iran and Israel: ‘As President of the United States, I Don’t Bluff,” The Atlantic, March 2, 2012.
¹²³ Gavriel Queenann, “Report: Arab Nations Pressing for Iran Strike,” Arutz Sheva, November 18, 2011.
¹²⁴ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Declaration of Establishment of state of Israel,” MFA, May 14, 1948; Sarah Trister, “Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Supporting the Fight for Freedom and Equality,” Huffington Post, March 10, 2010.
¹²⁵ “Golda Meir,” Encyclopedia Judaica, Keter, Jerusalem, 1972, pp. 1242–44.
¹²⁶ Knesset website, “Women Knesset Members,” Knesset, March 8, 2012; Jennifer E. Manning and Colleen J. Shogan, “Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2012,” Congressional Research Service, March 7, 2012.
¹²⁷ Knesset website, “Eighteenth Knesset: Government 32,” Knesset, March 8, 2012.
¹²⁸ Knesset website, “Tzipi Livni: Kadima,” Knesset, March 8, 2012; Shelly Yachimovich, “About Shelly,” Shelly Yachimovich website, January 16, 2009.
¹²⁹ Raday, Frances, “Law in Israel,” Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia, Jewish Women's Archive, March 8, 2012
¹³⁰ The Israel Project, “Women Now Majority in Israeli Justice System,” The Israel Project, March 8, 2012.
¹³¹ Anat Maor, “Women in Israel,” Israel Studies: An Anthology, March 2010.
¹³² Ibid.
¹³³ Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, “Statistical Abstract of Israel 2011: Employment Rate of Persons Aged 15 and Over, by Sex,” CBS, 2011.
¹³⁴ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Integration of women in the IDF,” MFA, March 8, 2009.
¹³⁵ Israel Defense Forces Blog, “163rd IAF Flight Course Graduates,” Israel Defense Forces, December 22, 2011.
¹³⁶ Anat Maor, “Women in Israel,” Israel Studies: An Anthology, March 2010.
¹³⁷ Israel Diplomatic Network, “Our Training Extensions: MCTC,” MASHAV, March 8, 2012.
¹³⁸ Sarah Trister, “Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Supporting the Fight for Freedom and Equality,” Huffington Post, March 10, 2010.
¹³⁹ David Horovitz, "Gaza's strategic repercussions," The Times of Israel, March 13, 2012.
¹⁴⁰ Hirsh Goodman, “A Lesson Learned,” Jerusalem Report, September 19, 2005.
¹⁴¹ Ronald Reagan, “Ronald Reagan on Libya,” Ronald Reagan.com, June 5, 2004.
¹⁴² “Drones are Lynchpin of Obama’s War on Terror,” Der Spiegel, March 12, 2010; Scott Wilson, Craig Whitlock and William Branigin, “Osama bin Laden killed in U.S. raid, buried at sea,” Washington Post, May 2, 2011.
¹⁴³ Jonah Mandel, “Israeli targeted killings called into question,” The China Post, March 14, 2012.
¹⁴⁴ Aviram Zino, “High Court: Targeted killing permissible,” YNet, December 14, 2006.
¹⁴⁵ Amos Yadlin, “Ethical Dilemmas in Fighting Terrorism,” Vol. 4, No. 8, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, November 25, 2004.
¹⁴⁶ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Measures Taken by Israel in Support of Developing the Palestinian Economy and Socio-Economic Structure”, MFA, March 18, 2012.
¹⁴⁷ Israel Defense Forces Blog, “Developments in Policy Towards the West Bank and Gaza in 2010,” IDF, March 17, 2011.
¹⁴⁸ Israel Defense Forces Blog, “Israeli Cooperation with the Palestinians,” IDF, accessed March 20, 2012.
¹⁴⁹ Ehud Rosen, “The Global March to Jerusalem: Part of the International Campaign to Delegitimize Israel,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, March-April 2012.
¹⁵⁰ JPost.com staff, “Abbas urges Arabs to fight Judaization of J’lem,” Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2012.
¹⁵¹ Palestinian Media Watch, “‘Judaization of Jerusalem,’” PMW, March 28, 2012.
¹⁵² The Israel Project, “Jerusalem Tip Kit,” TIP, March 28, 2012.
¹⁵³ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Behind the Headlines: Background information from the Municipality of Jerusalem regarding the Shepherd Hotel building,” MFA, July 19, 2009.
¹⁵⁴ Gil Ronen, “Jerusalem Planning Over 5,000 New Arab Housing Units,” Arutz Sheva, November 18, 2009.
¹⁵⁵ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “14 Protection of Holy Places Law,” MFA, June 27, 1967.
¹⁵⁶ The Israel Project, “Jerusalem Tip Kit,” TIP, March 28, 2012.
¹⁵⁷ Pechter Polls, “Detailed November 2012 East Jerusalem Survey Results—The Palestinians of East Jerusalem: What Do They Really Want?” Pechter Polls, January 13, 2011; David Pollock, “What Do the Arabs of East Jerusalem Really Want?” JCPA, September 7, 2011.
¹⁵⁸ Victoria Nuland, “Daily Press Briefing,” U.S. Department of State, March 28, 2012.
¹⁵⁹ Churches for Middle East Peace, “CMEP to Sec. Clinton on Palestinian Christian Issues,” CMEP, May 5, 2009.
¹⁶⁰ Bob Simon, Harry Radliffe, "Christians of the Holy Land," CBS, April 22, 2012.
¹⁶¹ Rania Al Qass Collings, Rifat Kassis, and Mitri Raheb (Eds.), “Palestinian Christians: Facts, Figures and Trends,” DIYAR, 2008.
¹⁶² Ibid.
¹⁶³ Jewish Council for Public Affairs, “JCPA Background Paper: The Palestinian Christian Population,” JCPA, p.5.
¹⁶⁴ Pajamas Media, “Christians Suffer Under Palestinian Authority, PJ Media, November 15, 2009.
¹⁶⁵ Stand with Us, “Christians in the Holy Land: persecuted under the Palestinian Authority,” SWU
¹⁶⁶ Jonathan Adelman and Agota Kuperman, “The Christian Exodus from the Middle East,” Jewish Virtual Library.
¹⁶⁷ Associated Press, “Palestinian area churches attacked,” YNet News, September 16, 2006.
¹⁶⁸ Michael Oren, “Israel and the Plight of Mideast Christians,” Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2012.
¹⁶⁹ Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, “Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2010: Population, by Religion,” CBS, 2010.
¹⁷⁰ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Jerusalem: the Holy City,” MFA.
¹⁷¹ Adam Garfinkle, Politics and Society in Modern Israel: Myths and Realities, (NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1997), pp. 108 & 110.
¹⁷² “2008 President Candidates Views on the Middle East – Barack Obama,” Jewish Virtual Library.
¹⁷³“Remarks by President Obama at AIPAC Policy Conference,”The White House, (March 4, 2012).
¹⁷⁴Michael McAuliff, “Senators Offer License to Strike Iran Nuclear Program,” Huffington Post, (February 29, 2012).
¹⁷⁵“Uranium Production: Enriching Uranium,” Federation of American Scientists.
¹⁷⁶“Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran,”IAEA,(February 24, 2012).
¹⁷⁷“IAEA to Press Iran Over Nuclear Concerns,” Reuters,(January 19, 2012).
¹⁷⁸“Security Council Resolution 1696,” United Nations, (July 31, 2006).
¹⁷⁹Borzou Daragahi, “Efforts on Iran ‘a failure,'” Los Angeles Times, (December 6, 2008).
¹⁸⁰Paul Richter, “US Signals Major Shift on Iran Nuclear Program,” Los Angeles Times, (April 27, 2012).
¹⁸¹Steven Slivnick, “Questions & Answers About Iran’s Nuclear Proliferation,” Jewish United Fund, (Summer 2011).
¹⁸²Tovah Lazaroff, "PM Calls on Abbas to Return to Negotiating Table," Jerusalem Post, (May 8, 2012).
¹⁸³avid Shyovitz, "Camp David 2000," Jewish Virtual Library.
¹⁸⁴"The Mofaz Plan: A Permanent Palestinian State In Temporary Borders In Advance of Final Status Talks," Israel Policy Forum, (November 16, 2009).
¹⁸⁵Reuters, "Abbas Says Ready to Engage with Netanyahu on Middle East Peace Process," Haaretz, (May 9, 2012).
¹⁸⁶ Edmund Sanders, "Palestinians Clash with Israeli Soldiers in Nakba Day Protests," Los Angeles Times, (May 15, 2012)
¹⁸⁷ Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, “I dream of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it,” Xinhua, (April 1, 2006).
¹⁸⁸ Jerusalem Post, (May 15, 2005).
¹⁹⁰ "Palestinian Public Opinion Poll #43," Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, (April 3, 2012).
¹⁹¹ Al-Manar TV, (January 25, 2006).
¹⁹² "PM Netanyahu's Address at the Knesset: Herzl Day", Prime Minister's Office, (May 16, 2011).