Does the World Really Care About Palestinians?

Monday, September 21, 2015 |  Ryan Jones  ISRAEL TODAY

RELATED STORIES

• Netanyahu: Palestinian Authority doesn't want peace
• Palestinian Human Rights Abuses Revealed
• Palestinians Attacked for Marching With Israelis

Topics:

Palestinians

The video of Palestinian Authority (PA) police officers brutally beating a young Palestinian boy (see below) forces us to once again raise the question: Does the world really care about the Palestinians?

Yes, the video went viral on Arab social media, where it sparked a widespread angry response. But it was hardly mentioned outside the Middle East, and when it was emphasis was placed on how the officers acted independently and were punished. The PA was spared blame.

Imagine had a group of IDF soldiers or Israeli police officers administered this particular beating. A special session UN Security Council hearing, American and European condemnations, and threats of International Criminal Court lawsuits would not be long in coming. To say nothing of the widespread global media attention the incident would elicit.

But the boy wasn’t beaten by Jews. Sure, the effect on him was all the same, but the identity of the criminals is everything. Palestinians beating a Palestinian is nothing. Israelis beating a Palestinian is something.

Which is why we must again ask: Does the world actually care about the well-being of Palestinians? Or is this really all about badmouthing Israel? Is it the treatment and well-being of individual Palestinians that matters, or is it rather the identity of those doling out the abuse, be it real or perceived?

If Israel wasn’t involved, would the Palestinians garner any attention at all? Does the world give any thought to the hundreds and thousands of Palestinians that are routinely abused by Hamas, Fatah and any number of other Palestinian armed groups?

This video and the very muted response to it again highlights that the only time most in the international community give a damn about a Palestinian life is when doing so provides an opportunity to smear the Jews and condemn their state.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates FROM ISRAEL TODAY.