What Hezbollah could not do early this month in Lebanon was accomplished by terrorist organization Hamas three years ago in the Palestinian territories. Now, Hamas finds itself governing only in Gaza, in a conflict with Fatah which controls the West Bank, isolated from the international community, and under siege by Israeli forces. Of course, the Israeli “siege” has come about because Israel is sick and tired of Hamas firing rockets into its territory. While the situation seems bleak for Hamas and the battered residents of Gaza, there is one person that they can count on for “support” (other than Syria, Iran, and other Arab state sponsors): Jimmy Carter.

Yes, former president of the United States Jimmy Carter visited Gaza in order to see the destruction of the conflict last January between Hamas and Israel. Instead of offering a sober appraisal of the current situation in Gaza, the causes and consequences of war and terrorism, Carter simply criticized the international community and placed the blame on everyone except Hamas, the group that routinely fires rockets into Israel. Carter said “the responsibility for this terrible human rights crime lies in Jerusalem, Cairo, Washington, and throughout the international community.” I guess that the appropriate response to terrorism from Hamas should be to simply take it, according to Carter. It is easy to sympathize with the Palestinians in the aftermath of a disproportionate strike by Israelis, but how else can Israel react to the near-constant terrorist strikes it endures?

The only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian situation is for both sides to commit to peace, meaning an end to Palestinian terrorism and an end to Israeli expansionism. When a former US president completely ignores the fact that Hamas’ indiscriminate attacks on Israel are the major cause of the recent conflict, he is exposing his bias and/or his idiocy. In order to put an end to terrorism, the world must recognize it for what it is, murder, and demonstrate that there can be no benefit from it… not sympathize with it. Carter needs to stop giving aid and comfort to terrorists.

-AG