Fifteen Jews were blown to bits by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem Aug. 9 and 130 were injured, many severely. The immediate reaction from world leaders was barely audible.
The next day Israel sought retribution. But Israeli troops didn’t kill anyone. Instead they took over Orient House, the Palestinian Authority’s unofficial headquarters in eastern Jerusalem.
And world leaders expressed horror and demanded that Israel withdraw.
Are they suddenly immune to reports of civilians being killed by terrorists?
While President Bush this week called on Yasser Arafat to “clamp down on the suicide bombers and the violence,” he also said “Israelis must show more restraint.”
Are we missing something here? Israel’s measured response was against a building. True, that building has symbolic meaning to the Palestinians, who also want Jerusalem as their capital. But that is why Israel chose Orient House as its response to the suicide bombing.
World leaders say Israel’s retaliation worsens the chance for peace talks. But didn’t the Palestinian attack do a lot more to worsen the chance for peace?
The Palestinian leadership has rejected cease-fires again and again. This week they rejected a meeting with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who only wanted to discuss terms for a cease-fire.
It’s become clear to Israelis that they no longer have a partner for peace. That being the case, why allow the Palestinians to have a building inside Jerusalem that they can use as a staging area for future terror attacks? Israeli troops claim they found at least one weapon and bomb materials inside Orient House.
But Israelis’ takeover of the headquarters and Palestinian Authority buildings in Abu Dis does not have to be permanent. If the Palestinians abided by a cease-fire, Israel would likely return their buildings.
But who is going to give back Israel’s 15 dead?
It’s time that world leaders demand an end to terrorism and place sanctions on developing countries that perpetuate it. And it’s time that they praise Israel for its restraint.