Dateline Jerusalem — The definition of double standard, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a situation in which two people, groups, etc., are treated very differently from each other in a way that is unfair to one of them.” Perfect examples of disparate treatment occur in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Israel’s right to defend itself, its methods of fighting terror, and its boundaries. The world, the EU and majority of European nations in particular, and even at times the US, are major offenders in this war against Israel. This was especially evident recently when the Islamic terror plaguing Europe was blamed on Israel’s alleged “occupation” of the non-existent state of “Palestine,” as opposed to blaming terrorists for committing terror throughout the world. Ironically, not only are the methods used by Israel in fighting terror routinely used by the same countries criticizing Israel’s methods, but the greatest apologizers of these terrorists seem to be experiencing the greatest amount of terror within their own borders.
Firstly, Israel does not “occupy” “Palestinian” land, contrary to Palestinian and European propaganda. Israel has a legitimate right to the Land of Israel. There is a historical connection. Jews have resided in Israel continuously for over 3,000 years.
There is a legal right via the San Remo Conference and the Balfour Declaration that was incorporated by the League of Nations into the 1922 Mandate for Palestine. To deny Jews the right to land designated specifically for them by the League of Nations is a violation of international law. As usual, a double standard exists.
What Is Modern Palestiniaan?
“Occupation” does not just concern Judea and Samaria, more recently known as the “West Bank.” According to the Arab “Palestinians,” who were not called Palestinians until the 1964 PLO Charter, all of the Land of Israel is “occupied” by Jews. That means they consider all of Israel to be theirs. Arab Palestinians consider Tel Aviv, along the Mediterranean Sea, never part of the alleged “disputed territories,” to be the largest “settlement” of Jews. Interesting to note that prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Jews living in the Land of Israel were referred to as Palestinians. Arabs living in Israel considered themselves “Southern Syrians.”
The double standard also exists with respect to condemnation of terrorism and egregious human rights violations. The mayor of the largest Druze town in the allegedly “occupied” Golan says those condemning Israeli “occupation”: “It’s laughable. Why don’t they condemn the horrors in Syria, where dozens of children are killed daily? Golan residents have a good life.”
To answer the Druze mayor’s question, there is a double standard. Israel is falsely condemned. Those deserving condemnation are ignored. Can anyone expect otherwise when the United Nations systematically targets Israel, as does the European Union
Who Made These Rules?
In 2013, the U.N. General Assembly singled out Israel by adopting 21 resolutions against it. Only four resolutions were made against all other nations of the world. No resolutions were raised against human rights violators such as China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Egypt or Russia.
Even common definitions for acts of terror — are accepted by the rest of the world — do not apply to Israelis and Jews. Terrorists are lab freedom fighters if they commit terror against Israelis. Since the Second Intifada, 1,000 Israeli men, women and children have been murdered by terrorists. Europe, however, continues to criticize Israel’s methods of fighting terror as immoral. Only European children are considered victims of terror. , Israeli children are ignored or their lives are made insignificant. An English columnist recently claimed that jihadists have begun to target children for the first time.
- Yet what about the innocent Israeli children viciously attacked and murdered while sleeping in their beds?
- Palestinian rockets landing in Israeli kindergartens?
- Or the Jewish children killed when jihadists targeted Jewish schools in France and systematically shot elementary school Jewish children in the head?
Do these incidents not count because they occurred against Jewish children?
At Least We Try
Israel cannot sit idly by as the world appeases terrorists. While Europe turns a blind eye to the events plaguing the Continent, Israel actively tries to eradicate and prevent terrorism against its citizens. Yet when doing so, Israel has been harshly criticized and sanctioned. During the Second Intifada, Israel engaged in targeted air strikes against Hamas terror masterminds. The EU and several countries brought Israel before the U.N. Security Council for a vote censuring it on the grounds that the targeted assassinations were “unlawful, unjustified, and counterproductive.” Censure was prevented by the U.S. vetoing the measure. Today the U.S. and European nations routinely participate in drone strikes on terrorists and ISIS targets.
Another instance of criticizing Israel but acting in the same manner occurred with respect to building a fence to keep out suicide bombers and other terrorists back in 2004. In this instance, the International Court of Justice at The Hague called for the tearing down of the “illegal” fence even though it prevented terrorists from entering Israel. Again, only the U.S. voted in Israel’s favor, while the U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovakia voted against Israel. Today, though, those same nations say nothing about the fences being built throughout Europe in such places as Hungary, Sweden, Greece, and Bulgaria to keep out terrorists. Furthermore, Israeli checkpoints designed to prevent attacks and keep out terrorists, and blockades in Gaza to prevent weapons and war supplies coming in to arm Hamas, are often the object of virulent criticism. Israel is routinely accused of “excessive use of force.” Yet those same criticized measures to stem terror are being utilized by those first to condemn Israel.
Copycats?
The various methods of terror Palestinians employ against Israeli civilians are similar to those being experienced by Europe from Islamic Jihadists. Airline hijackings, suicide bombings, car rammings, hatchets and stabbings, assault rifle rampages, are commonplace in Europe. Although Israel does have occasional terrorist attacks, the number of casualties is minimal in comparison to those occurring in Europe. This is because the safety and security of Israeli citizens is of utmost concern. Political correctness and appeasement may not be part of the Israeli vocabulary. Israelis believe in the use of deadly force, if necessary, against terrorists to prevent the further loss of innocent lives. The average Israeli citizen actively participates in combating terror. Vigilant Israelis continuously are on the lookout for abandoned packages and unusual behavior. Armed guards protect schools, malls, bus and train stations. These measures might seem intrusive. Such precautions allow Israelis to get on with their daily lives by feeling safe and secure. Alot of credit goes to Israeli intelligence services.
As former British Prime Minister David Cameron said, “If you say ‘Violence in London isn’t justified, but suicide bombs in Israel are a different matter,’ you, too, are part of the problem.”
Throughout the world on social media, people have expressed solidarity and sympathy with the various victims of terror in Europe. When it happens in Israel, the terrorist perpetrators are portrayed as the victims. Therefore, despite the double standards and disparate treatment of Israel, despite the misrepresentations and falsehoods bandied about, and despite being surrounded by enemies, Israel depends on itself to protect its people. As a result, we feel much safer here than in the rest of the world.
L’hitraot. Shachar