The Patriot Post® · Palestinians Continue to Enjoy the Favor of the West

Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Cairo Sunday, practically tripped over himself in a rush to commit $212 million to rebuild Gaza. Kerry joined a number of Middle Eastern leaders gathered at a conference for the specific purpose of raising funds to donate to the effort. The Palestinian Authority claims it needs $4 billion to restore government infrastructure (read “rebuild tunnels and underground bunkers”) and offer aid to the 100,000 people left homeless after weeks of fighting between Hamas and Israel.

That fighting was, of course, provoked by Hamas, making Kerry’s rush to give money particularly disconcerting.

Kerry, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and others offered the usual platitudes about creating a lasting peace – “more than just a ceasefire” – and accepting tough choices. Hamas was chastised for its attacks on Israeli civilians, and Israel was admonished for defending itself. Nothing new there. Indeed, it was the same old backward logic.

The Palestinian Authority continues to pay only lip service to shutting Hamas out of the political picture, just as it has for years. The PA hasn’t offered any reasonable solution for disarming and neutralizing Hamas fighters who routinely attack Israel with rockets. This summer, Israel discovered a network of tunnels that allowed terrorists to sneak into Israel and attack civilians. In other words, Hamas was preparing to dish out mass mayhem, but the PA did nothing. Israel had to step in militarily and stop the threat.

Now, the PA is asking other nations for money to rebuild after a conflict started by a terrorist group on its own soil that it refuses to control. In reality, the aid that Kerry and other nations are pledging will do nothing more than get Gaza back in fighting shape so Hamas can attack Israel again.

There’s nothing to indicate Gaza deserves aid. All that exists right now between Israel and Hamas is a ceasefire, and given Hamas’s history of ignoring those, it could end at any moment. As columnist Cal Thomas notes, “The aid is promised before the terrorist war against Israel is over and without a promise by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority that there won’t be future attacks against the Jewish state.”

In fact, Hamas exists almost solely to ensure the destruction of Israel. It says so in plain language in the terrorist group’s charter. They will not negotiate – why should they? The other nations of the world are reckless enough to reward them with money to rebuild after each Israeli bombardment. They fire rockets, use civilians as human shields, gain the sympathy and spoils of the international community, lay low, and then start up all over again a few months later. It’s a tired cycle that has no end thanks to the support of men like John Kerry and Barack Obama.

The White House blows smoke under the ruse that propping up Gaza and creating the opportunity for a Palestinian state will lead to peace. Likewise, British lawmakers this week engaged in a symbolic vote to recognize Palestine as a state. The motion passed 274-12. Many governments in Europe also profess Israel is the cause of troubles in the region, not Hamas. They blame Israel as occupiers, while arguing the solution is Palestinian sovereignty.

This is not the case. The PA and Hamas haven’t demonstrated their worthiness for recognition as a nation of the world. It would be a devastating mistake to reward the murderous behavior of a terrorist group with the gift of statehood. It would not soothe them into a peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. It would only embolden them to continue on with their plan: the destruction of Israel.