(Commentary) Jonathan S. Tobin - On Sunday, the New York Times devoted considerable space to the story of Islam Dar Ayyoub, a 15-year-old Palestinian. Though the purpose of the story was to indict Israel, anyone reading between the lines could see the real villain of this tale is not Israel's military but the Palestinian "activists" who have exploited their children. They are recruited into gangs explicitly tasked with starting violent confrontations with Israelis by throwing stones and using other lethal weapons, hoping the soldiers will defend themselves and kill one of the kids. Ayyoub is depicted as a victim because he gave up his confederates to the Israelis. Getting arrested and questioned by the Israeli military was probably no picnic for Ayyoub. Yet, as the Times reported, he was not tortured. His interrogation was videotaped and reveals nothing the Palestinians could claim was an atrocity. Like many another culprit, he got scared and talked. The result was not an injustice but the arrest of an adult Palestinian named Bassem Tamimi who exploited Ayyoub and other village kids in an effort to keep the war against Israel alive. Tamimi and other Palestinian terror facilitators are not promoting non-violence but instead are deliberately placing teenagers into harm's way so as to provide more martyrs for their cause. Until the Palestinian leadership is prepared to recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state and make peace, Israel will be forced to keep order in the region and to do its best to fend off terrorism and the orchestrated riots that were at the core of the Ayyoub case. The real scandal is the willingness of Palestinians to sacrifice children like Islam Ayyoub on the altar of hate for Israel
2012-02-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive