Last week, Palestinian terrorists murdered four Israelis, and wounded four others, at a gas station north of Jerusalem. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of Jewish locals set upon nearby Palestinian villages, setting fire to homes and automobiles, and in a few cases shooting guns. One Palestinian was killed, although the cause of death is still being investigated. Since then, jihadist terror has continued apace, including a first-ever attempt to launch rockets into central Israel from Samaria. Rabbi Yaakov Medan, a director of a prominent West Bank yeshiva, comments on the attacks on Palestinian civilians:

It is essential to condemn these acts unequivocally and consider providing compensation to the victims. While the righteous anger toward the terrorists and their enablers is understandable, it must never justify the aforementioned riots, as they harm innocent Arabs who should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The damage caused by these riots is immeasurable and deeply troubling. Three significant aspects highlight the severity of this situation. First . . . causing harm to those who may not be guilty solely because they are “under the spotlight” goes against the teachings of God. There is no Jewish law, commandment, or custom to justify such behavior. In fact, these acts may be even more serious than other transgressions and violations.

The second consequence is the significant damage inflicted upon Jewish settlement in the West Bank. . . . [T]hese destructive actions unravel all the progress that has been made. They not only undermine the bonds forged between Jews and Arabs in the region, which contribute significantly to our coexistence, but also jeopardize the ongoing efforts to advance and strengthen the settlement itself.

Another significant damage relates to the security system. Regardless of personal preferences, it is important to recognize that the power of our security forces, including the IDF, Border Police, Shin Bet, and others, is finite and has its limits. . . .  Introducing a new front against the settlers could gravely undermine the ongoing battle against the malevolent forces of Arab terrorism.

On Tuesday, representatives of Hamas met with their counterparts from Fatah—the faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) once led by Yasir Arafat that now governs parts of the West Bank—in Beijing to discuss possible reconciliation. While it is unlikely that these talks will yield any more progress than the many previous rounds, they constitute a significant step in China’s increasing attempts to involve itself in the Middle East on the side of Israel’s enemies.

By contrast, writes Tuvia Gering, Taiwan has been quick and consistent in its condemnations of Hamas and Iran and its expressions of sympathy with Israel:

Support from Taipei goes beyond words. Taiwan’s appointee in Tel Aviv and de-facto ambassador, Abby Lee, has been busy aiding hostage families, adopting the most affected kibbutzim in southern Israel, and volunteering with farmers. Taiwan recently pledged more than half a million dollars to Israel for critical initiatives, including medical and communications supplies for local municipalities. This follows earlier aid from Taiwan to an organization helping Israeli soldiers and families immediately after the October 7 attack.

The reasons why are not hard to fathom:

In many ways, Taiwan sees a reflection of itself in Israel—two vibrant democracies facing threats from hostile neighbors. Both nations wield substantial economic and technological prowess, and both heavily depend on U.S. military exports and diplomacy. Taipei also sees Israel as a “role model” for what Taiwan should aspire to be, citing its unwavering determination and capabilities to defend itself.

On a deeper level, Taiwanese leaders seem to view Israel’s war with Hamas and Iran as an extension of a greater struggle between democracy and autocracy.

Gering urges Israel to reciprocate these expressions of friendship and to take into account that “China has been going above and beyond to demonize the Jewish state in international forums.” Above all, he writes, Jerusalem should “take a firmer stance against China’s support for Hamas and Iran-backed terrorism, exposing the hypocrisy and repression that underpin its vision for a new global order.”