Hate to Order

Fresh tragedy struck Israel this weekend — bringing a pointed reminder of what the chief roadblock to peace really is. Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza openly celebrated Sunday’s attack, which killed four young Israeli soldiers, ages 20 to 22, as a Palestinian terrorist repeatedly ran a truck over his victims.

Relatives said the killer had been incited at his mosque by last Friday’s sermon decrying President-elect Trump’s intent to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel Radio reports that similar sermons came in mosques across the West Bank — on the specific orders of the “moderate” Palestinian Authority leadership. PA President Mahmoud Abbas attended one where the imam declared, “It isn’t possible to compromise on or negotiate over Jerusalem.”

Notice: Not only is a government (or what passes for one) dictating what’s preached in these houses of worship — it’s dictating a message of resentment and hate. One result was the truck attack — the deadliest yet in a wave of violence that has taken 37 Israeli and two American lives since late 2015.

This is how Israel has been left with no way to make peace — not with a “partner” that refuses to negotiate and instead promotes terrorism to press its demands.

Contrary to what President Obama still claims, it’s the Palestinian leadership that has yet to show any real commitment to a two-state solution — that safeguards Israel’s security and national identity.

The settlements that Obama blames are just an excuse. Just as moving the US embassy is made into an excuse for terrorism. The rejectionists will always find something.

Which is why Israel is right to stand firm.