The Return of the ‘Noble Enablers’

It’s been three decades since Oslo, a full generation. A hopeful centrist Israeli government set aside its grave concerns about Palestinian desires for genuine peace. Rabin, Peres, et all, took a leap of faith, giving the Palestinians significant control over their lives in a first stage toward genuine peace. By now, a new generation, guided toward peace would have been young adults in their 40’s and 50’s with a bright future, ready and able to lead a peaceful Palestinian state. But no.

In 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Yasser Arafat and the PA a comprehensive peace deal: 98% of the territory — with minor land swaps to account for demographics — and Jerusalem as a shared capital. Arafat rejected the offer; instead he initiated the intifada. No peace.

Then in 2005, Israel completely withdrew from Gaza; in 2006 Gazans “elected” the even more militant Hamas rather than the PA. No peace, but ongoing war — indiscriminate missiles, tunnels, terror, then October 7.

During 10+ year period following Oslo, about 1/3 of the Israeli public was hopeful, another 1/3 skeptical, and 1/3 acutely feeling both. It was a time for the Palestinians to reciprocate — to accept Jewish history in the Land of Israel, to accept the reality of a Jewish State, to renounce violence in principle and in actuality by taking serious steps to eliminate terrorism against Israel and Jews, to educate a generation for real peace, and to build and enjoy a healthy Palestinian society. But no. . 

Nothing has changed with the Palestinians — well, except they cheered, rather than denounced, the October 7 Hamas Massacre — not just Hamas, but Palestinians. They celebrated the murder of 1,200 Israelis / Jews (some Arabs and foreign workers as well), many who were themselves peace activists. Infants were beheaded, elderly slaughtered, entire families eliminated. Where were the Palestinian voices for basic human empathy? (Or from the UN for that matter?) The kidnapping of 250 others in Israel, including the repeated violent rape of Israeli women was not a source of shame for them or their supporters, but regarded as a well-deserved victory. 

And their supporters throughout Europe and the United States immediately took to the streets chanting “from the River to the Sea,” mobs violently assaulting Jews on college campuses and in the streets. So now, several Western governments declare their intention to recognize a Palestinian State, and assert that it is not a reward for October 7?

It may be true that France, England, and Canada, et al, do not actually intend to reward evil, but that is exactly how the Palestinians and their supporters interpret it. While Israel is still processing the massacre, Iranian missiles, still fending off Houthi missiles, and agonizing over its still-held hostages, you come riding on white horses, championing a Palestinian State, an entity that Palestinians have not been willing to do for themselves, if it means genuine peace.   

What the Palestinians have learned is that their quest for international recognition — driven by ideological, religious, and ethnic hatred by means of terrorism and lies — finally wore down the Europeans, as they expected. They have learned that their well-funded propaganda machine and their colonization of the West has yielded the very results that they would never accede to themselves. They have placed their bets on Western democracies, because democracy, they have discerned, follows rather than leads; bereft of morality, political power is all that matters. They have no moral responsibility — neither to their own suffering people nor to others. Fortunately for them, they have you — Westerners.

In her book, “The Ghosts of a Holy War,” reporter Yardena Schwartz recounts that she interviewed the Mayor of Hebron, ruled by Palestinians as part of Oslo. The mayor asserts that “all” claims of Jewish history in the Land of Israel — including the Bible and archeology, let alone the events of the early 20th century — are “Zionist propaganda.” To ascertain whether this thinking was the mayor’s opinion or something widespread, she heads to Hebron’s cafes, where college and high students gather for coffee. “Zionist propaganda. Everyone believes it,” they tell her. For Palestinians there is no Jewish history in Israel and no Jewish history means no peace. And accepting Jewish history and moral responsibility is not something that can be declared by outside politicians; it must come from within. If not it will fail. 

So here begins France, wink-wink with England and “Oh Canada” — the detached noble do-gooders, white knights, peacemakers. It sounds so good, except, once again, theorists are detached from reality. Moreover, given the absence of sound moral judgment reflected in the extraordinarily disproportionate negative international focus on Israel coupled with the failure to hold Arabs accountable for their ideology and actions, any assurances, if past actions are future prologue, will be meaningless. Israel, the democracy which should be lauded, will nevertheless always be in the wrong, merely for existing, for being Jews, for being the few against the many. This is what happens when democracies sell-out: they sink and further sink into the abyss. 

If the Palestinians want genuine peace, a chance at a better life, let them stand up and do something constructive about it. But why? Steeped in lies and gross distortions, hatred and violence, and of course, blame, they are never responsible. Judge their actions; observe their supporters. Congratulations France, England, and Canada and those who follow — you are, once again, the great enablers.