In today’s Wall Street Journal, the “Notable and Quotable” entry is an excerpt from Eric Cantor’s address at AIPAC on May 22, which the WSJ says “captures the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The written version does not capture the moment. So here is the video of that portion of his speech:
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The following story illustrates Israel’s dilemma. A Palestinian woman from Gaza arrives at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba for lifesaving skin treatment for burns over half her body. After the conclusion of her extensive treatment, the woman is invited back for follow-up visits to the outpatient clinic. One day she is caught at the border crossing wearing a suicide belt. Her intention? To blow herself up at the same clinic that saved her life.
Now what kind of culture leads one to do that? Sadly, it is a culture infused with resentment and hatred. And it is this culture that underlies the Palestinians’ and the broader Arab world’s refusal to accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. This is the root of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. It is NOT about the ’67 lines. [Sustained applause]
And until Israel’s enemies come to terms with this reality, a true peace will be impossible.
And the reality, as we say in Hebrew, is “Ahm Yisrael Chai:” The people of Israel live. And what they want is to live in peace. If the Palestinians want to live in peace in a state of their own, they must demonstrate that they are worthy of a state.
To Mr. Abbas, I say: Stop the incitement in your media and your schools. Stop naming public squares and athletic teams after suicide bombers. And come to the negotiating table when you have prepared your people to forego hatred and renounce terrorism—and Israel will embrace you. [Sustained applause]. Until that day, there can be no peace with Hamas. Peace at any price isn’t peace; it’s surrender.