During a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv on June 8, 2016, four people were shot. Others were injured, some seriously. The two killers who shot indiscriminately, were put out of action.

Meital Sassi reports that she sat with friends and family in a cafe to celebrate her child’s birthday. „Suddenly, a man next to us began shooting. We ran like crazy. At first, he was behind us, but then luckily for us, he turned into a side street.“ During the whole time he was firing his gun indiscriminately at people.

When I read or hear the following phrases in the newspapers or from German politicians, it makes me real angry:

„The continuing violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which claims lives nearly every day, must end.“

No! If a person shoots another person, then you don’t criticize the one with a bullet in the head. Criticism must be unconditionally directed towards the one who used the gun to kill!

„Both sides need to work towards de-escalation. It’s not enough to discuss the symptoms of the conflict, but the causes must also be addressed. Peace between Israelis and Palestinians can only be achieved when serious efforts are resumed towards a fair two-state solution.“

No! After a terrorist murder there is “peace“ only when the offender is unconditionally condemned. Such terrorist attacks against Israelis don’t represent an invitation to „resume serious efforts towards a fair two-state solution“. Those attacks should be condemned, unreservedly and unilaterally!

And what’s certainly not needed is a body count! Israel is making efforts to avoid deaths. The injured terrorists were immediately taken to an Israeli hospital while those terrorists were celebrated in Gaza and in the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Families of terrorists and murderers of Jews are handsomely rewarded by Hamas and Fatah. Some terrorists even have streets named after them.

On August 3, 2014 alone, 57 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel; at schools, hospitals, nuclear power plants, retirement homes, mosques, synagogues and churches! The reason for each Hamas rocket can be found in their founding charter (Article 7), which calls for the destruction of the entire Jewish people! The intention of each fired rocket is thus mass murder!

Nevertheless, few people die in Israel despite the great risk they face through terrorism, because Israel loves life and does everything to protect its own population. In Gaza, many people die because Hamas misuses the population as cannon fodder and as terrorists. They cry: „We love death!“

Israel uses weapons to protect people. Hamas uses people to protect weapons, weapons for the mass murder of Jews.

Hamas needs deaths, even their own; and as many as possible in order to discredit Israel. The killers need those people who play into a perverse logic of antisemitism whereby deaths on both sides are played against each other. But, they’re playing the murderous game of Hamas. That’s not journalism, that’s propaganda!

(Translation: William Wires)