Why are Palestinian children being wounded in the conflict?
The Palestinians are sending children to throw rocks and firebombs at Israeli soldiers. On many occasions, the Palestinian Authority has even provided transportation, since the Israeli military positions are located outside population centers, far from the neighborhoods where these children live. Armed Palestinian policemen and members of the Fatah militia, the Tanzim, often stand just behind this human shield of juvenile “martyrs” and direct gunfire at Israeli soldiers, knowing they can exploit the children’s wounds for their propaganda purposes, should Israeli soldiers choose to defend themselves. The cynical use of children as pawns in the conflict begins in the Palestinian education system. Palestinian textbooks (many of which have been recently published by the Palestinian Authority itself) openly teach hatred against Israel and Israelis. Palestinian education television programming glorifies martyrdom in the struggle against Israel. Palestinian children are trained in the use of
