Opposing Suicide Bombers

In recent weeks, Palestinian suicide bombers have attacked Israel twice. On January 29, a young Palestinian police officer killed himself and 11 bus passengers in Jerusalem. Earlier in January, a young Palestinian mother killed herself and four Israelis at a checkpoint on the Gaza border. In each attack, two Palestinian terrorist groups, Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, claimed responsibility. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the leader of Hamas, threatened that more terrorism, including by young women, would be directed against Israel. In the past, Sheikh Yassin's hateful words may have found an audience. However, today, it seems that is no longer the case, and the number of ears willing to hear such words is diminishing. Hassan Batil, a Palestinian commentator, wrote: If society does not dare to speak out against this issue, we may soon witness ten-year-olds and pregnant women blowing themselves up. Hafez Barqouti, the editor of the Palestinian Authority's newspaper, Hayat Al-Jadida, said, 'We should not fight with women and children. We must raise our voices against such actions.' Hassan Fattah, the editor of the newspaper and website Iraq Today, states: Even the families of bombers speak out against murder, adding: I spent some time, especially in Gaza, and interviewed many families of suicide bombers. You constantly hear how upset they are that their children are chosen for such actions. I think you will likely see men criticizing this situation and more willing than ever to speak out against it. In fact, surveys conducted by the Palestinian Center for Political Research in Ramallah show that the majority of Palestinians want to end violence on both sides. Perhaps this is why Muslim and Arab extremists, including Hamas terrorists and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, oppose autonomy for Palestinians. If the Palestinian people can decide for themselves about their actions, they may be able to take serious action against those who send women and children to their deaths.