Yesterday, near Ramallah. Rain is pouring down on a narrow road. An Israeli truck and a Palestinian bus with school children collide. The bus flips over. Six little Palestinian children (all aged 4) and a teacher die instantly. All others are injured. Terrible, no? On Facebook several Israeli wrote these replies:





Benny: “Calm down, they are Palestinian Children.” 11 likes
Tali: “It seems like they are Palestinian children.. Thank God..” 4 likes
Tal: “Thank God they are Palestinians”
Ajala: “Great less terrorists!!!!” 10 likes
Itai: “Thank God its Palestinians, let it be such bus every day.” 9 likes
Aleyah: “Calm down, Its a bus with Palestinian children, lets pray there will be deaths, or at least severe injuries, this is great news to start the day with.”

 
Of course these replies (removed after some hours) are totally sick. And it makes you sad, so
sad. What if you are Palestinian? Or even worse, what if these children were your children? New hatred will grow as a result of these comments. With these comments Israel is its own worst enemy.

Suddenly these days we see it everywhere, parties or people being their own worst enemy; the German president, Mitt Romney, the Dutch Labor Party, the Greek… all of them dragging themselves down, being their own worst enemy. No need for others to defeat them. But let’s go back to Israel.

I really hope that in the coming days the majority of Israeli will condemn these sick comments, will show real respect for the dead and – let’s pray for that – will finally come to meaningful steps forward to create two safe states, where children on both sides can grow up with less hatred. I know that on both sides people are working for this fragile dream, because I met those peace activists in person in the last year. They share a dream of coexistence that is continuously
damaged by fools and extremists on both sides. A dream that requires true guts, vision and perseverance, as you can also see in this beautiful and price-winning documentary “Israel vs. Israel”, that is now touring through the USA: http://www.israelvsisrael.com/

Finally the new, positive leaders must arise from within Israel itself. And eventually they will. I have to believe this and help to make this happen. Otherwise these Facebook messages kill my motivation for building togetherness.