The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has pointed to a recent, stunning admission by a British Foreign Office minister that the British Government ignores the issue of Palestinian Authority (PA) compliance with its signed obligations to end incitement to hatred and murder against Jews and Israel.
In response to a question in the British House of Commons by Matthew Offord MP – “… what recent representations his Department has received on the honouring by the Palestinian Authority of Palestinian citizens that have participated in terrorist acts?” – Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, replied, “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any recent representation on this issue. Our officials in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have not had any discussions with the Palestinian Authority on this issue” (‘UK Foreign Office admits to ignoring Palestinian Authority terror incitement,’ The Commentator [UK], April 18, 2012).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “When governments hold no discussions with the PA on a serious matter like terrorism or incitement – not over a week or month, but over a period of years – then it is clear that PA pro-terror, anti-peace acts are being ignored and play no part in the policies of these governments towards the PA, peace-making or Israel.
“Worse, when the British Government praises the PA for fighting terrorism and incitement, rather than condemning it for promoting both, it actually helps the PA to continue doing so. It should be demanding that the PA fulfill its signed commitments under the Oslo agreements to arrest terrorists, outlaw terrorist groups and end the incitement to hatred and murder in the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps. It should be demanding that cease to hold days of mourning when a Jew-killing terrorist dies.
“This incitement works. An October 2010 Arab World for Research & Development opinion poll found that an overwhelming 85% of Palestinians would oppose a peace settlement with Israel if it entailed Palestinian compromise on key issues such the legally baseless, so-called ‘right of return’ of Arab refugees and their millions of descendants; Jerusalem; borders; and Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria. In contrast, only 12% of Palestinians would accept such a peace agreement. A 2007 poll found that 90% of Palestinians under 25 and 75% over 25 don’t accept Israel’s existence.
“Worse, a July 2011 Palestinian Center for Public Opinion poll found that an overwhelming 73% of Palestinians agree with the hadith (Islamic tradition ascribed to Muhammad), quoted by the terrorist group Hamas in its Charter, about the need to murder Jews.
“No genuine peace is possible until and unless incitement to hatred and murder ceases. It ought therefore to be a prime concern of all governments if their loudly-proclaimed interest in peace is genuine. The ZOA has been beating a drum for years, highlighting PA incitement to hatred and murder and urging governments, including successive U.S. administrations, to make further diplomatic and financial support for the PA conditional on it ending.
“Governments that fail to press the issues of terrorism and incitement and to make further support for the PA conditional on its ending are sending the ruinous message that the PA will pay no price for doing such things. In this way, they help to ensure that it continues.”