Rashida Tlaib, US Congresswoman:

"Walls are destructive, not productive"

Ramadan Shalah, Head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad:

"[Suicide] operations... is an option which exists... However... there's the separation wall, which is an obstacle for the Resistance [terror]. If it did not exist, the situation would be completely different."

PA terror leaders complain about Israel's security wall, specifically because it stopped Palestinian suicide terror. Yesterday Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib complained about that very same security wall even though it saved countless lives. Although Tlaib did not say that she supports Palestinian suicide terror, the American Congresswoman should be aware that she is criticizing a lifesaving structure that only exists to stop terror.

Israel decided to build the wall in 2002 in response to Palestinian suicide terror that had murdered hundreds of civilians. In 2001, Palestinian terrorists committed 31 suicide bombings. In 2002 there had been 35 suicide bombings prior to Israel’s decision to build the security wall on June 24, 2002. In June alone there had already been 4 suicide terror attacks, two in Jerusalem, one in Herzlia and one in Megido, in which 44 Israelis were murdered.

This was Tlaib’s complaint about the wall:

"The [Congressional] delegation would have seen firsthand. Yeah, why walls are destructive, not productive. They could've asked the people in Bethlehem how walls cut people off away from economic opportunities, from a way to live and do psychological damage that lasts forever."

This was Islamic Jihad’s complaint about the wall - it prevents suicide terror.

Ramadan Shalah, Head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad:

"The Martyrdom-seeking [suicide] operations as a strategic option invented by the Palestinians, is an option which exists, we haven't abandoned it. However, the timing of [suicide terror] operations, and the ability to execute those operations, are issues for the field [commanders]. For example, in the West Bank, there's the separation wall, which is an obstacle for the resistance [terror]. If it did not exist, the situation would be completely different." Al-Manar TV (Hezbollah), Nov. 11, 2006

Tlaib should be aware of the history of the wall and its lifesaving impact before criticizing. Furthermore, if she has complaints about Palestinian hardships she should direct her criticism to the people who made the security wall necessary - the Palestinian terror leaders. Moreover, the Palestinian leadership themselves likewise bear responsibility due to their support for suicide terror from 2000 - 2005. If Tlaib has complaints about the existence of the wall, she should be complaining about the terror leaders and their supporters in Ramallah and Gaza, who bear full responsibility, and not about Israel.