Myths and facts from on the ground in Israel

In recent weeks, a spate of violent lone wolf knife attacks have plagued Israel and left both Israeli citizens and Palestinians on edge. The attacks have predominantly been carried out by young Palestinian men between the ages of 13 and 20 who’ve been radicalized by Hamas’s extremist ideology. 

This past week, we had the opportunity to participate in a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel, where we witnessed the violence and turmoil on the ground. Just 10 minutes after we departed from touring Hebron, a Palestinian terrorist stabbed an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, injuring him, before being shot.

{mosads}Sadly such shocking scenes are becoming more frequent; Israel has seen a dramatic escalation of violence spilling into predominately tourist areas. The IDF soldiers stationed at Hebron are there to protect civilians and tourists traveling through the area, not for any military activities.

The terrorist actions carried out by individuals affiliated with an extremist faction of the Palestinian government — Hamas — have no place in the civilized world. Seeing the level of security needed and the imminent risk of stabbings and suicide bombing attacks was truly eye-opening. Soldiers patrolling the streets at all hours of the day and night, equipped with semi-automatic weapons, has become the norm for Israeli citizens.

One of the primary reasons for the spike in violence is the repudiated social media assertion that the Israeli government plans to restrict Palestinian access to the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount — a myth that has widely been denounced by Israeli officials and one not supported by facts on the ground during our visit.

Considering the threat level, the IDF has shown a great deal of restraint in dealing with the current wave of terrorism. Despite the uptick in violence, Israel has not sealed off the West Bank, nor has it barred the more than 150,000 Palestinian workers who live in the West Bank from traveling to work in Israel.

During our trip, we met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Israeli legislators at the Knesset. Each of them expressed their deep concern over the escalation in violence in recent months spilling over into civilian-dominant regions, and all expressed their commitment to working toward a peaceful solution.

There is a deep desire among the Israeli people to coexist with their Arab neighbors and to live in peace and shared prosperity. Currently, the Israeli government is operating hospitals along the Syrian border. They don’t exist to serve Israelis but to serve their neighbors who have come into harm’s way during the conflict in Syria. This is only one example of the many ways the Israeli government seeks to peacefully coexist within the Middle East.  

In order to move forward, the Palestinian government must acknowledge Israeli statehood and denounce the rampant Hamas-led violence against Jews. The United States, as well as the world community — particularly the United Nations — has a duty to speak out against the terrorist violence that is plaguing the streets of Israel.

No long-term peace can be achieved without two willing parties. The Israeli government is willing to work toward a long-term solution. It’s time the Palestinian Authority denounces Hamas’s terrorist activities and moves forward in pursuit of peace. 

Lowenthal has represented California’s 47th Congressional District since 2013. He sits on the Foreign Affairs and the Natural Resources committees. Meadows has represented North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District since 2013. He sits on the Foreign Affairs; the Oversight and Government Reform; and the Transportation committees.