Palestinians pay price for their government's failure

Dallas Morning News | Michael Hopkovitz:

"Palestinians often complain about Israel's impact on their daily lives, encouraged by the Palestinian Authority, which uses schools, media and mosques to deflect criticism of its government and incites people daily with anti-Israel rhetoric. The PA, contrary to its words, continues to reject Israel's right to exist, blaming Israel for Palestinian hardships. However, the main cause for those hardships is the failure of the PA to act for the benefit of its own people.

The opening paragraph sets the tone for a one-sided rant against Palestinian politics. Palestinians "complain". They "deflect criticism". They "incite". They say one thing and do another. They "blame". No hint of any validity to the aspirations of a million Palestinians. No hint of any fault in any action by any Israeli government. Yada, yada, yada.

Like countless other partisan rants, by both sides of this age-old struggle, there's a clear inability to understand the other's position. Mr. Hopkovitz arrogantly suggests he understands better than Palestinians what is in their own self interest, who they should vote for, which political goals are worthy.

Peace will not be achieved by imposing one's political opinions on the other. Peace will come through mutual respect, accomodation and compromise. And that requires understanding. Until each side can write an essay in a way that readers can't tell the author's allegiance from the opening paragraph, that understanding will be lacking.

Mr. Hopkovitz is identified as being a co-chairman of a group called the Dallas Media Committee. A Google search failed to turn up any information on this group. The Dallas Morning News owes its readers a little more information about the background and credentials of its Viewpoints authors.