There Can Be No Peace without Respect for Life

September 22, 2016

 “Children Are Not Cannon Fodder”

“I’ve just watched a video that shook me to the core of my being. In just a few seconds, it shows why our conflict persists. 

“A Palestinian father holds up his 4-year-old son. He pleads with Israeli border police to kill his own child. He shouts, ‘Shoot this little boy!’ His boy.

“He pushes his young son forward toward the soldiers…the boy pauses. He is scared. Any child would be. He turns back, looking at his father for guidance.

“With his shirt tightly tucked into his bright red shorts, the boy ambles forward towards the soldiers. One of them extends his hand in friendship. The boy gives him a high-five.

“It’s hard to make a four-year-old hate.

“Encouraging someone to murder a child—let alone your own child—is probably the most inhumane thing a person can do.

“Recently, the Palestinian Authority’s official newspaper praised teenage terrorists and wrote that ‘death as a martyr is the path to excellence and greatness.’ That’s a direct quote.

“Palestinian and Israeli children deserve better. They deserve to live. They deserve to live in peace.

“Children are not cannon fodder. They are the most precious things in the world. They’re the most precious things we have.

“I’m sure Palestinian parents, many of them, are as outraged as I am at this video.

“And today I appeal to every father and mother around the world. I ask you to join me in calling for an end to this abuse of children.

“The Palestinian leadership must stop encouraging children to kill. They must stop encouraging Palestinian parents to call for the death of their own children.

“It’s horrendous.

“Peace begins with respect. If parents don’t respect their own children’s lives, how will they respect the lives of their neighbors?

“We must love all children. They should never be pushed to violence or hate.

“Join me in educating all children for peace.”

—PM Netanyahu comments on the video in which a Palestinian father is seen calling on [IDF] soldiers to shoot his son

Child Violence and Martyrdom Encouraged

Shoot This Little Boy!

Palestinian father to [IDF] soldiers: “Shoot this little boy, after all you always do that to small children! Shoot! Shoot! Shoot him! Go, go! (unclear) Shoot him, heroes!”

Palestinian father to son: “Go, go! Don’t be scared! Don’t be scared! (unclear) Raise the flag! Raise, raise!”

Palestinian father: “Let them shoot and kill him! Kill him, shoot him!”

Palestinian father to son: “Raise the flag! Don’t be scared!

Throw the rock! Throw! Throw! Throw!”

—Official PA TV

Editor’s note: In the unedited video, the boy and soldier shake hands. However, the PA TV’s edited version freezes video after soldier reaches out to boy then continues video from a few seconds later, falsely showing viewers that the boy refused to shake hands with the soldier.

Violence in School Plays

The Palestinian Authority (PA) education system continues to poison Palestinian children with hate and terror promotion messages, even using cultural mediums like school plays. A recent play at a PA high school for boys reinforced the PA libel that Israel fabricated the many recent stabbing attacks by Palestinians by planting knives near innocent Palestinians who were then shot and killed by Israelis for no reason (Palestinian Media Watch).

“In the play performed in front of hundreds of high school students, actors portray Israeli soldiers arresting a Palestinian youth. The soldiers make the Palestinian kneel and lie on the ground; then they plant a knife next to him to frame him as a stabber, and finally shoot him in cold blood. Other actors portray Palestinians carrying away the ‘Martyr’s’ body.”

—Official Facebook page of Tuqu’ Municipality (PA)

At a Child Festival in Gaza

Palestinian girl: “Forward, my child, to the duel. You will die as a Martyr (Shahid) and blow up the enemies. Palestine [is] an Arab holding victory in one hand and rocks of fire in the other. [Palestine is] an Arab full of the challenging spirit, pride and determination.”

[See photos] Young boys throw stones at other boys dressed as Israeli policemen…Young boys dressed as Hamas fighters capture another boy dressed as an Israeli soldier…Young boys dressed as Hamas fighters taking a kidnapped Israeli soldier through a “tunnel.”

Two girls: “Arabs, I do not turn to you. You can continue to sleep. We have young people who are all ready, and who do not fear death. The young of Jerusalem are a knife revolution.”

— Child festival in Gaza promotes child martyrdom, killing and violence (YouTube)

Death Is the Path to Excellence

“The day of the publication of high school matriculation exam results is known as a day of long expectation, and as a first step in the realization of the aspirations… Some of them are disappointed because they did not receive the grade they hoped for or did not succeed. Some of them view this day as the day of their birth and the start of their path in life, work and building. However, the families of the Martyrs (Shahids) and their relatives find themselves proud of the Martyrdom (Shahada, note play on words, also means “certificate”) that their children achieved with the Creator and in the homeland…

Sixteen [students] succeeded [in achieving] the Martyrdom (Shahada) of the homeland and withstanding its difficult tests, for death as a Martyr is the path to excellence and greatness, and the path of those who know how to reach the great victory…”

—WAFA (official PA news agency), and official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, (emphasis added)

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