By Peter Bailey
The world is a depressing place when children are used as the spear-point to achieve military or political objectives. Whatever the objective, however noble the cause might seem in certain eyes, nothing can ever justify parents allowing and even encouraging the brainwashing, and filling their children with hatred. The glory of death for the cause is instilled in these children to such a degree that they no longer value their own lives, but see themselves as a weapon to be used by those in authority to achieve their objectives.
‘Child’s Play’ the Hamas Way
Hamas openly admits to military training for children.
This link takes the reader to a video that screened on Al Aqsa (Hamas) TV glorifying the fact that young children are being taught military skills including the use of weapons such as knives and guns. There is no question whatsoever that this is totally contrary to international law and is clearly child abuse. The problem arises when children such as these are sent on suicide missions and captured by Israeli soldiers.
What is the responsibility of the Israeli authorities in such cases?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBNRVgq59Y
– Send the child back home after a severe reprimand? From painful deadly experience, the child resumes his or her terrorist activities.
– Place the child in a rehabilitation centre to help the child regain its childhood? Here Israel runs the risk of being accused of brainwashing.
– Place the child in custody for a period to prevent further attempts of acts of terrorism? While Israel is neutra
lising the danger to its citizens, it will invariably be accused of imprisoning “innocent” children.
What is at stake are the lives of innocent civilians – in the streets, on busses and trains, in restaurants, movie houses, pubs and night clubs, and in Israel’s multifarious shopping malls! A government’s first job is providing safety and security.
Addressing Responsibility
The global community has a responsibility to toughen up against any organisation, governmental or otherwise, that abuses children in the way that the Palestinian leadership – the PA and Hamas – do. Rather than reflexively criticize Israel in its attempts to neutralize the danger, the global community should help change the’ rules-of-the-game’ that produces these young killing machines.
Regarding the Palestinian Authority, it is common knowledge that children are taught from a very young school going age, and probably before that as well, that Israel and Jews are the enemy. Children are indoctrinated that it is glorious to die as a martyr for their cause or their religion, with the encouragement of the parents.
These 
young children are allowed out on the streets with stones and firebombs and encouraged to use these against Israeli soldiers, police and civilians, and that should they die in the attempt, this will bring glory to their parents. The P.A. encourages youngsters to commit acts of terror with a promise of a reward, martyrdom and financial benefit for their families if they die in the act, or ongoing financial benefit should they be placed in custody. Palestinian leadership is complicit by its actions in encouraging terrorism by minors.
Classrooms = War Rooms
Most parents around the world are justifiably afraid what their children learn outside the classroom that could be detrimental to their future. In the territories controlled by Hamas and the PA, the complete reverse is the case! The danger is not outside but inside the classroom. School books provided by the P.A. refer to Israel as an “imported colonial entity”. In other words – Israel has no right to exist. However, in educational parlance, this is “background material” to transform impressionable minds, into mindless machines of the killing kind!
It was reported in November 2016 at a conference for the Center for Near East Policy Research in Jerusalem, that over 200 US-government-approved textbooks used in Palestinian UNRWA-sponsored schools are reportedly “teaching Arab children between first and ninth grade to kill Israelis and sacrifice themselves as martyrs to drive the Jews out of the country.” David Bedein, who heads the research institute said the findings reveal that the PA- approved school books “are preparing children to kill.” He cites an example of a math problem where the students are asked to use variables, including the number of Jews killed during the first and second intifadas. Dr. Arnon Groiss who holds a PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton, and who has closely analyzed PA textbooks for years, confirmed to the previous American administration that the books used to teach 25% of all Palestinian students in UNRWA schools in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, are riddled with incitement. “The books present Israel,” said Groiss, “as the “Jewish other”, and are based on three fundamental principles introduced by Yasser Arafat when he took over the educational system in the West Bank and Gaza. They include:
– the delegitimization of Israel and Jews in this country;
– no recognition of any Jewish holy places; and
– the demonization of Israel and Jews.”
This is child abuse and in contravention of international law.
While BDS in South Africa protests about Palestinian juveniles in Israeli detention, consider Israel’s options in dealing with these ‘juveniles’ – manufactured and molded by the lethal partnership of Palestinian politicians, educators and acquiescing parents – to randomly kill and maim civilians, who may be Israelis, Palestinians or tourists from abroad. Israel is obliged to keep these ‘killing machines’ off the streets – to save lives including those of young potential killers. Unless of course their caring parents are quite happy with their children’s “education” and that “graduation means death to themselves and others!
