Nov. 10, 2016

• Are the Palestinians Prepared for Statehood? – Editorial
  The Palestinians are unprepared for statehood because they are unable to solve their own differences through cooperation and peaceful politics. The Palestinian political leadership is split between the Fatah-controlled West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Due to that split, Palestinians have been unable to hold democratic elections on a national level for a decade. The present Palestinian political leadership has no democratic mandate to rule.
  So as long as Palestinians are unable to solve their internal problems, how are they going to work together to run a unified Palestinian state? If a future Palestinian state deteriorates into anarchy shortly after inception, this would have major ramifications for the security of Israel.
  And Palestinian rule remains autocratic. In both the West Bank and Gaza, the human rights of Palestinians are regularly trampled. Journalists and political dissidents who dare to criticize the political leadership are beaten, imprisoned and intimidated. The rights of women and religious minorities are not protected. Hamas, which rules in Gaza and enjoys substantial support in the West Bank, calls outright for the destruction of Israel.
  Taking steps to create a Palestinian state before solving the more fundamental problems within Palestinian society is a recipe for disaster. It would likely help create yet another failed state in the Middle East that would be a magnet for Islamic extremism, and an existential danger to the State of Israel. (Jerusalem Post)