Sticks and stones, Palestinian edition

In January 1998 when Binyamin Netanyahu was serving his first term as President and Bill Clinton was President of the United States, Clinton was pressuring Netanyahu to cede territory to the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu refused until the Arafat and the Palestinian Authority started observing the agreements they signed. These points had been reaffirmed after the Hebron Accords in a Note for the Record. Among other provisions, the note demanded:

Preventing incitement and hostile propaganda, as specified in Article XXII of the Interim Agreement

Here’s the relevant text of THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN INTERIM AGREEMENT

28 Sep 1995

CHAPTER 4 – COOPERATION

ARTICLE XXII
Relations between Israel and the Council

1. Israel and the Council shall seek to foster mutual understanding and tolerance and shall accordingly abstain from incitement, including hostile propaganda, against each other and, without derogating from the principle of freedom of expression, shall take legal measures to prevent such incitement by any organizations, groups or individuals within their jurisdiction.

2. Israel and the Council will ensure that their respective educational systems contribute to the peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and to peace in the entire region, and will refrain from the introduction of any motifs that could adversely affect the process of reconciliation.

Note the date. Yitzchak Rabin was still alive and yet Clinton who recently mourned the death of Yitzchak Rabin treated Netanyahu as if he were making some new uncalled for demands on the Palestinian Authority.

The incitement still has not stopped. Clinton is no longer President but Netanyahu is again Prime Minister. Once again, Netanyahu is demanding that the Palestinians observe past agreements, by publishing an incitement index. (via Israel Matzav)

The [incitement] meter comprises four central components: clear incitement to violence; an atmosphere that encourages violence and terror; incitement to hatred, demonization and failure to create an environment for positive progress.

The ratings are based on analysis of institutionalized Palestinian media and Palestinians schoolbooks and remarks of senior Palestinian Authority officials.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, “Achieving an historic peace with the Palestinian people requires a change of approach by the [Palestinian] Authority and the recognition of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish People. Just as in Israel there is no denial of the other side, so we expect the Palestinians to act likewise and to educate for peace.”

Check this out and see why 15 years later, this is still an issue.

For all those who insist that Israel do more for peace, it’s worth asking why they don’t condemn the Palestinians for failing to make good on so many of their commitments over the past 17 years. Incitement is just one of those failures.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.