PA terror leaders complain about Israel’s security wall, specifically because it stopped Palestinian suicide terror.
But this week, US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib complained about that very same security wall even though it saved countless lives. Although Tlaib did not say that she supports Palestinian suicide terror, the American lawmaker should be aware that she is criticizing a lifesaving structure that only exists to stop terror.
Israel decided to build the wall in 2002 in response to Palestinian Authority suicide terror that murdered hundreds of civilians. In 2001, Palestinian Authority terrorists committed 31 suicide bombings. In 2002 there had been 35 suicide bombings prior to Israel’s decision to build the security wall on June 24, 2002. In June alone there had already been four suicide terror attacks, two in Jerusalem, one in Herzliya and one in Megiddo, in which 44 Israelis were murdered.
This was Tlaib’s complaint about the wall: “The [Congressional] delegation would have seen first-hand. Yeah, why walls are destructive, not productive. They could’ve asked the people in Bethlehem how walls cut people off away from economic opportunities, from a way to live and do psychological damage that lasts forever.”
Ramadan Shalah, head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said as far back as 2006: “The Martyrdom-seeking [suicide] operations as a strategic option invented by the Palestinians, is an option which exists, we haven’t abandoned it. However, the timing of [suicide terror] operations, and the ability to execute those operations, are issues for the field [commanders]. For example, in the West Bank, there’s the separation wall, which is an obstacle for the resistance [terror]. If it did not exist, the situation would be completely different.” [Al-Manar TV (Hezbollah) Nov. 11, 2006]
Tlaib should be aware of the history of the wall and its lifesaving impact before criticizing. Furthermore, if she has complaints about Palestinian Authority hardships she should direct her criticism to the people who made the security wall necessary – the Palestinian terrorist leaders.
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority leadership themselves likewise bear responsibility due to their support for suicide terror from 2000 – 2005. If Tlaib has complaints about the existence of the wall, she should be complaining about the terrorist leaders and their supporters in Ramallah and Gaza, who bear full responsibility, and not about Israel.
Itamar Marcus is the director of the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), a watchdog NGO that monitors and translates Palestinian Authority government and media broadcasts and publications.