Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.  – Golda Meir

But the death and injury of Gaza civilians who are not connected to the fighting is boosting support for Hamas among the Gaza public, and the Islamists’ popularity is on the rise in the West Bank and the rest of the Arab world too.

As a parent of two young children, I find this astonishing.  Other sources discuss how Palestinian Arabs systematically teach their children to hate Jews and to admire the “heroic actions” of the Hamas. One would imagine that a parents’ first instinct were to support a political entity that advocated the safety and well-being of ones children. Instead, reports suggest that this is far from the case among many Palestinians, many of whom dance in the streets during Hamas’ rocket launches.  Although bloodshed of civilians is always tragic, people must take responsibility for their choices. The public election (as well as continued support) of a hate-driven terrorist organization is a choice. It is a choice that reflects the late Golda Meir’s words, when she stated that: “peace will come when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.”