A Violent Weekend

In response to an IDF action Palestinian terrorists shot dead seven Jewish residents of Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem and wounded three others Friday evening. “The next morning a 13 year old Palestinian wounded two Israeli men near the Old City.”

Former national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat challenged the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to more forcefully confront terrorism. “If Abu Mazen does not fight terrorism more forcefully the IDF could be forced to embark on a major military operation as it did in 2002 at the height of the Second Intifada. He remembers well the days of Operation Defensive Shield. He doesn’t want to get there. But it could get there. If we get to a situation where we need to do that, we will.” He summarizes his opinion, “If the PA won’t fight terror, it is not clear why the organization should exist.”

With American Secretary of State Tony Blinken in the Middle East for talks, Meir urged Netanyhu’s talks with Secretary Blinken to focus on Palestinian terror. He notes that “the main threat for Israel and the region is Iran. Israel and the US should focus on reaching a road map against Iran.”

Solomon’s counsel is appropriate here, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; but the simple pass on and are punished”(Proverbs 22:3).

Israel, the US, and indeed, the world ignore Iran at their peril.

(Source: The Times of Israel)