Extremists on both sides of the Middle East conflict have decided to toss each other a lifeline over this weekends brutal murder of five members of the Fogel family of the Itamar settlement in the occupied West Bank.
On Friday, a Palestinian terrorist (or group of terrorists) entered the settlement of Itamar in the Occupied West Bank and murdered in cold blood, Udi Fogel, his wife, and three of their children ages ten, four, and three months. These people were stabbed to death in an awful killing reminiscent of the worst of humanity.
In response both sides have decided to toss their extremists a life line. In Ramallah, Fateh has decided to name a public square after the Terrorist Dalal Mugniyeh. For those unfamiliar with this gem of a human being, Mugniyeh led the Coastal Road Massacre Terror attackwhich killed an American wildlife photographer and 36 Israelis including 13 children.
Many Palestinians see Dalal al-Mughrabi, a member of the then-underground Fatah movement, as a heroine for her role in hijacking the bus on Israel's Haifa-Tel Aviv highway.
Israelis consider Mughrabi, who was killed in the incident, a terrorist.
"We stand here in praise of our martyrs and in loyalty to all of the martyrs of the national movement," Fatah member Sabri Seidam said at the unveiling of a plaque showing Mughrabi cradling a rifle against a backdrop map of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The square was festooned with Palestinian flags.
Meanwhile in Gaza.. Hamas called the killings an Israeli internal criminal act and then according to Haaretz:
In contrast, Hamas spokespeople in Gaza praised the massacre. In the southern part of the Strip, Hamas officials handed out candy to residents in celebration.
and Ynet
Residents handed out candy and sweets, one resident saying the joy "is a natural response to the harm settlers inflict on the Palestinian residents in the West Bank."
Gaza residents from the southern city of Rafah hit the streets Saturday to celebrate the terror attack in the West Bank settlement of Itamar where five family members were murdered in their sleep, including three children.
Celebrating murder and terror... How is that a solution to anything?
Now on the other side, some Israeli Ministers (including Prime Minister Netanyahu) are using this incident to increase building in West Bank settlements. The Israeli government just approved of 500 new housing units in existing settlements and in effect are continuing the path building that led to the break down in Peace talks.
At the same time Ynet is reporting: West Bank: Palestinian vehicles stoned, set on fire
Palestinian sources in the northern West Bank claim that extreme right-wing activists set five vehicles on fire and stoned other Palestinian cars in the Nablus area as revenge for the murder of the Fogel family in Itamar on Saturday. Also Sunday, small groups demonstrated in support of the settlement enterprise across the country.
The Palestinians reported that extreme right-wing activists resumed "price tag" activity following the funeral of Udi and Ruth Fogel and their three children – Yoav (11), Elad (3) and Hadas (three months).
They claim that settlers blocked the Jit Junction southwest of Nablus. It was also reported that five vehicles were set on fire in the village of Hawara and that stones were hurled at Palestinian cars in the Kedumin area. Also in the Hawara area, stones were hurled at buses returning from the Fogel funeral. No injuries or damage were reported
These people should realize that no matter what they do it will not bring the Fogel family back and attacks on innocent people will do nothing to end future violence.
The voices of sanity in this situation come from the U.S. government: U.S.: Israel's approval of new West Bank homes counters peace efforts, P.A. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad who condemned the attacks immediately, and in a surprise comment by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak:
Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Barak said that as that September deadline nears "we stand to face a diplomatic tsunami that the majority of the public is unaware of," Barak said, adding that there was "an international movement that may recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders."
"It's a mistake not to notice this tsunami. Israel's delegitimization is in sight, even if citizens don't see it. It is a very dangerous situation, one that requires action," the defense minister said, adding that "diplomatic initiative" would "reduce risks down the road."
Barak also leveled what could be construed as indirect criticism of the diplomatic policy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that "for the last two years we haven't tried to put the core issues on the [negotiations'] table."
The only way this conflict is going to resolve itself is through finding a long term solution that recognizes the legitimate rights of both Jews and Palestinians to a homeland... better known as the Two State Solution. It is obvious that the two peoples have there is too much animosity for anything else. Neither side's extremists would get what they completely want, but the majorities of both people would get a solution that would not lead to massive amounts of misery.
The peace process needs to get underway so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in Peace and that no more children and innocent people suffer for the stupidity of the extremes.