Since 2007, the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian controlled territory southwest of Israel, has been ruled by the terrorist organization Hamas. During this span, Hamas has launched a relentless campaign of rockets into the south of Israel. Temporary ceasefires between Israel and Hamas have intermittently been in play over these years; however, they are always followed by a new barrage of rockets fired from Gaza. These perpetual shellings have obstructed many Israelis from going about their normal lives and have been so terrorizing that President Barack Obama has greatly assisted in the institution of Israel’s Iron Dome, a defense system that intercepts and destroys incoming missiles.
Recently, the bombardment of Hamas’ rockets has escalated. Over the last few months, Israel has asked Hamas to stop firing these missiles at Israeli civilians, and each time Hamas has disregarded these pleas. Imagine trying to drive your kids to school, or buy groceries, or see a movie and out of your rearview window, along with children playing, you see some rockets intercepted and others crashing down.
The denial of Israel’s pleas for peace has left Israel no choice but to strike against the Hamas leaders in charge of terror operations. On the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, Israel sent Hamas and terror organizations everywhere an explicit message when they targeted and took out the Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari.
For Israel, this assassination is somewhat akin to the killing of Osama bin Laden. Like bin Laden, Jabari was a revered leader in Hamas and will be very difficult for them to replace. Where the analogy fails is, while there remains a plethora of terrorists out there intent on the destruction of the United States, Israel is forced to deal with Jabaris on a daily basis, each of whom presents an imminent threat to Israel and its civilians. Hezbollah is another terrorist group hell-bent on Israel’s annihilation. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are supported and funded by the Iranian government, as is the Assad regime in Syria which has massacred well over 30,000 of its citizens over the last year and a half.
There is no way to negotiate with terror. The Taliban is still set on murdering Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist who has tirelessly belabored to achieve education rights for females in Pakistan. Al Qaeda is still a lingering threat to the United States. All of these organizations will stop at nothing to destroy us. They are ruthless and merciless, and so when a country is able to make a statement as strong as Israel made on Wednesday, it demands recognition, recognition that there are leaders among us, who will not tolerate those who instill fear and savagely murder innocents to achieve their goals.
When asked to comment on the killing of Jabari, President Obama reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens. Deputy to the U.S. State Department Mark Toner followed up by saying:, “Hamas claims to have the best interests of the Palestinian people at heart, yet it continues to engage in violence that is counterproductive to the Palestinian cause. Attacking Israel on a near daily basis does nothing to help Palestinians in Gaza or to move the Palestinian people any closer to achieving self determination.”
In order to ensure that Israel’s safety and security will not be compromised, and in order to ensure that the Palestinian people are delivered their right to be a sovereign country, I wholeheartedly believe in a two-state solution. In order to realize that solution, Hamas must dissolve and defer responsibility for the government of Palestine to Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party. There cannot be any endorsement of terrorist activities. There must be peace. In the coming days, my heart lies with Israel and all innocent civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, who are unfortunately entangled in the conflict.
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