Lunch in Washington, blood at Rimonim

Disregarding a clear and credible warning of imminent terror attacks, Netanyahu continued his friendly peace talk in Washington. Sure enough, a second terrorist attack occurred: a car was ambushed near Rimonim junction. Two Jews were wounded, their car riddled with bullets.

Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for the attack. Nevertheless, Israel did not interrupt cargo transit or the electricity supply to Hamas-ruled Gaza. Unwilling to jeopardize its relations with Obama, the government refuses to declare a state of war with the enclave.

Obama condemned the terrorist attacks as senseless bloodshed. Presumably, attacks on civilians would have been more justifiable and sensible.
Netanyahu called on settlers to show restraint, which infamously has been Jewish policy since the Arab pogroms of 1930s. It is a policy under which Jews busy themselves with burying their dead rather than preventing future deaths. Shabak, the Israeli security service, has vowed to intensify its operations against Jewish right-wing groups lest they retaliate against Muslims.

One thing is fishy, though. Why would Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran go hysterical over another hopeless round of peace talks? Hamas seriously jeopardizes its currently near-free traffic of arms and cargo. Hezbollah prepares for an all-put war with Israel, a conflict into which Syria might well be drawn. There was nothing like fervor this during Annapolis. It seems that the real issue being discussed in Washington has more to do with attacking Iran than making peace with Palestine.