Thank You Mrs. Bush and Hello Abu Mazen

First Lady Laura Bush was in the West Bank, listening to Palestinian women wail about how Israel’s Security Fence has become a barrier to normal living for them. While apparently not unsympathetic, Mrs. Bush replied, “I also understand for Israel that if you think terrorists are coming into the country to blow up a pizza parlor every day, then there is a lot of hesitancy.”

First Lady Laura Bush was in the West Bank, listening to Palestinian women wail about how Israel’s Security Fence has become a barrier to normal living for them. While apparently not unsympathetic, Mrs. Bush replied, “I also understand for Israel that if you think terrorists are coming into the country to blow up a pizza parlor every day, then there is a lot of hesitancy.”

For the Schijveschuurder family, which lost five members in the Sbarro bombing, we imagine that was some comfort, but there is more than comfort for Israeli victims in Mrs. Bush’s remark. There is a vital if unspoken understanding that terrorism, planned, executed and venerated by Palestinians is the driving force behind not only the problems of the Israelis, but also the problems of the Palestinians. The Security Fence isn’t the source of Palestinian victimization; terrorism is the source. Israel isn’t the reason the Palestinians have economic problems; poor Palestinian leadership is the reason.

In an odd news week leading up to Abu Mazen’s visit to the White House, Amnesty International and the World Bank showed rare signs of “getting it” as well, if only at the margins. At least we’ve found margins.

AI’s website has a 23 May release noting, “On 22 May a 15-year-old Palestinian child carrying explosive was arrested by the Israeli army at the Huwara military checkpoint, at the entrance to the West Bank town of Nablus. This is the third such incident this year… Palestinian armed groups have repeatedly shown total disregard for the most fundamental human rights, notably the right to life, by deliberately targeting Israeli civilians and by using Palestinian children in armed attacks.” (Emphasis added)

Outgoing World Bank chief James Wolfensohn, now envoy for economic development in Palestinian areas, said the PA would have to address financial mismanagement problems to attract increased donor aid. “Financial management within the Palestinian Authority… needs to demonstrate the sort of security… and the prudence of management I know [Finance Minister Salam Fayyad] would want to exert… If you had that, and transparency in expenditures, then I think what perhaps would be needed most would be some certainty about future levels of assistance on which they could plan.”

Abu Mazen has gotten something of a free ride in Washington, based on his pragmatic understanding that violence against Israel has been counterproductive to Palestinian national goals – not necessarily WRONG, mind you, but counterproductive. But he remains unable or unwilling (doesn’t matter which) to take steps to end the violence, or even end the incitement to violence emanating from PA media and mosques. And because of this, he has been unable to generate the commercial economic activity that would make international charity unnecessary. And because of this, children die.

Mrs. Bush will precede Abu Mazen back to the White House and we trust will discuss her observations about the burden of the responsibilities of the Palestinians with President Bush, and that he will follow her order of priorities.