The world has grown accustomed to seeing Israel as the culprit for all the ills of the Middle East. As the 21st Century politically correct leitmotif, Israel's guilt is even carried over to the global Jewish community. Let's face it, those who come to Israel's defense are also running the risk of being ostracized by a variety of anti-Israel protagonists, going from academics to clerics to government officials. This is why we must applaud the resolution that the US Senate passed on December 9 under the leadership of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia.
It is unclear if this was due to the changing of the guard that took place as a result of last November's elections but this resolution sticks out like a soar thumb amidst the usual anti-Israel rhetoric. While a vast majority of the global community continues to ignore the fact, the US Senate sent a clear message to Hamas and other terrorist groups indicating that the game they were playing wasn't fooling them anymore.
Just about every aspect of the crimes committed by Hamas were brought up in that resolution. The language used was bold and clearly unequivocal, to the point of risking some racist accusations from the more liberal factions. The resolution states that the Senate:
• Strongly condemns the use of innocent civilians as human shields;
• Calls on the international community to recognize and condemn Hamas’ use of human shields;
• Places responsibility for the rocket attacks against Israel on Hamas and other terrorist organizations, such as Palestine Islamic Jihad;
• Supports the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory and its citizens from Hamas’ rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts, and the use of tunnels and other means to carry out attacks against Israel;
• Expresses condolences to the families of the innocent victims on both sides of the conflict; supports Palestinian civilians who reject Hamas and all forms of terrorism and violence, desiring to live in peace with their Israeli neighbors;
• Supports efforts to demilitarize the Gaza Strip, removing Hamas’s means to target Israel, including its use of tunnels, rockets, and other means; and
• Condemns the United Nations Human Rights Council’s biased resolution establishing a commission of inquiry into Israel’s Gaza operations.
This is such a departure from the regular libelous tirades we hear from government officials, especially considering that it was a by-partisan vote. The victims and the perpetrators were actually properly described and recognized as such. It will be interesting to see how Hamas and especially Mahmoud Abbas will react to this accusation, especially in the wake of their push for global recognition.
Another question comes to mind regarding Palestinian recognition. How in the world can countries like France, Ireland, Sweden, Spain and England continue to offer their support for a Palestinian State, co-ruled by Fatah and Hamas AND keep a straight face?
Could this resolution be the first of many, finally putting all parties involved where they belong? Additionally, several congressmen are trying to push the US Department of Treasury into investigating how and where some funds are being disbursed by the US and funneled for terrorism.
Let us not forget that just few weeks ago, the "peaceful" Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was listed by the United Arab Emirates as a terrorist organization, amongst 82 others such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. The shock of course was that it came from a Muslim state.
It is too early to tell if more will stop drinking the Palestinian Kool-Aid, following the bold move presented in the recent resolution. On the other hand, in the grand scale of resolutions passed against Israel at the United Nations and/or reprimands pointed at the Jewish State by the US, this is one tiny drop of hope in an ocean of criticism, yet still a move in the right direction.
The truth shall set you free! Admission is the beginning of solution.