Finally: Israel to publish incitement index

Israel Matzav

Some of you may recall that four months ago, Israel announced that it had developed an index to measure 'Palestinian Authority' incitement against Israel and Jews. The index was quietly buried, probably to avoid infuriating the 'international community' by pointing out their obtuseness in insisting that the 'Palestinian Authority' is interested in anything resembling real price. Unfortunately, now that five innocent people have paid the price of the government's cowardice, the Netanyahu government now says that it will publish the index.

The Security Cabinet decided Sunday to establish an index that would monitor Palestinian Authority incitement against Israel and the Jewish people. The "Culture of Peace and Incitement Index" was developed by professional Government and security establishment elements.

The announcement is linked to the horrific massacre in Itamar, which the government sees as resulting from PA incitement. Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Sunday that continued PA incitement would makes any agreement signed by it worthless.

The Index considers four main issues: Explicit incitement to violence, encouraging an atmosphere of violence and terrorism, incitement to hatred and demonization, and the failure to prepare people for positive processes.

It was agreed that the Index would be constantly updated and presented in various forums in order to influence the Palestinian Authority to stop its ubiquitous incitement to, and education for, violence.

The high-profile establishment of the Index could signal a shift in official Israeli policy vis-a-vis the PA. Israelis who favor appeasing the PA tend to ignore incitement activity, focusing instead on actual terror acts. These are usually not officially authorized by the PA, and are often carried out by groups whose connection to the PA leadership is difficult to prove. Moving the focus to incitement lays the blame for terror directly at the PA's doorstep and could put an end to the terrorist's shell game regarding responsibilty for the actual attacks.

Actually, it is far more likely that Israel will use the index to show why talking to the 'Palestinian Authority' is futile and that is a far better use than trying to influence the 'Palestinian Authority' to stop incitement. At this point, the incitement is so deeply ingrained in the 'Palestinian' populace that fifty years without it would not help - and that's without considering incitement they would continue to see by satellite from Hamas, al-Jazeera and other Arab networks.

Unfortunately, when our government claims that the 'Palestinians' are a 'peace partner' and are ready to make peace, the only ones it is fooling are those who are inside the government itself.