The UN Secretary-General’s Outrageous Defense of Palestinian Terror

Jan. 29 2016

At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the “situation in the Middle East,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened with a long speech focused almost exclusively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, making only a passing reference to the war in Syria and none at all to that in Yemen. Ban took pains in his speech to justify Palestinian terror by asserting that “it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as an incubator of hate and extremism.” Jonathan Tobin writes:

[T]he recent upsurge in [violence] wasn’t the “natural” reaction to Palestinian frustration about the failure to bring about a two-state solution that the majority of [Palestinians] continue to oppose. The spark was the lies told by Mahmoud Abbas and the rest of the Palestinian leadership about alleged Israeli plans to harm the mosques on the Temple Mount. The driving force since then has been the same spirit of rejectionism that has animated the Palestinian national movement since its inception. Palestinian public opinion continues to view the Jewish presence in any part of the country as unacceptable. . . .

It is not “human nature”—normal instincts that are presumed to exist in all people—that drives Palestinians to seek out random Israelis, whether they are young or old, male or female, or even pregnant, and to stab or shoot them. In this case, the “incubator” of hatred and extremism is not Israel’s refusal to give up land it knows will be used as a launching pad for more terrorism, but rather a Palestinian ideology that views territorial compromise as treason.

Read more at Commentary

More about: Ban Ki-Moon, Israel & Zionism, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian terror, United Nations

Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel

Feb. 13 2025

Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.

Read more at Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

More about: Abraham Accords, Kuwait