Yesterday a 16 year old Arab boy from the village of Yata, several miles South of where we live, took a large kitchen knife and traveled North, He came to the shopping center at Gush Etzion Center. That’s where we do our regular weekly grocery shopping and often visit other stores in the complex. The teen-ager walked up behind Arie Fuld, who was standing outside. He took the 6 inch long knife from under his clothes where he had concealed it, and stabbed Arie Fuld in the back.
The boy was shot, but not killed. Forty five year old Fuld was not so fortunate. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. This was close to home in more than one way. Before my wife retired Fuld’s daughter, one of 4 siblings, had been one of her students. As I mentioned, we do our regular shopping at the center every week. It’s only a short drive south from our little town, The grocery store staff is predominantly Arab. Many of the customers are, as well. We always thought it was an example of how we could all live alongside one another. But not everyone likes that idea.
The President of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, has once again said that he is against violence. But the official pronouncements of his own government contradict that position. Just over a year ago the PA news agency WAFA and the Palestinian governments newspaper Al-Hayat-Al-Jedida carried one of the stories that extol and promote “martyrdom”. Such items appear regularly in the Palestinian Media, both electronic and in print. In just the last three years I know of 8 cases where teen age Arabs have murdered Jewish Israelis. There were 11 victims and at least 2 wounded survivors of these attacks. Please keep in mind that this only about teen age terrorists, and only about actual murders. It doesn’t include older terrorists or unsuccessful attacks.
There is a direct link in my mind between teen age terrorism and efforts by the Palestinian Authority to encourage them. It starts in the schools where the textbooks and teachers promote it, Even the UNRWA schools use those same texts and teachers. When the PA President says he against violence news reporters ought to call him out for the liar that he is. The PA also says it is in favor of a two state solution to our conflict. This, too, is contradicted by both their other statements (mostly in Arabic) and their actions. The PA Charter still calls for the destruction of Israel. The PA has already categorically rejected President Trumps Peace Plan. And it hasn’t even been published yet. I hope the impact of a new American policy that stops funding for entities involved in terror has some effect. It seems ludicrous that terrorist attacks can be condemned in the press on one side while money is being given to the organizations behind that terrorism on the other.
Wetherhorn 