1. a) Who have Palestinian terrorists been attacking over the past 5 months?
b) Where does the Israeli government place the blame for this latest string of murderous attacks?

2. Who was Taylor Force?

3. Describe the three separate terrorist attacks that occurred on Tuesday in Israel.

4. There are two political parties ruling the Palestinian Authority:

• Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas from the West Bank
• Hamas, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from the Gaza Strip

How did the leaders of the two ruling political parties respond to these attacks?

5. a) What did Vice President Biden say in response to the attacks that took place very close to his separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders?
b) Do you think this was the appropriate response? too strong? too weak? exactly what he should have said? Explain your answer.
c) Why do you think Vice President Biden did not condemn the Palestinian leaders’ praise for the murderers?

6. A report to Congress states:  Since the establishment of limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the mid-1990s, the U.S. government has committed approximately $5 billion in bilateral assistance to the Palestinians, who are among the world’s largest per capita recipients of international foreign aid. Successive Administrations have requested aid for the Palestinians in apparent support of at least three major U.S. policy priorities of interest to Congress:

• Preventing terrorism against Israel from Hamas and other militant organizations.
• Fostering stability, prosperity, and self-governance in the West Bank that inclines Palestinians toward peaceful coexistence with Israel and a “two-state solution.”
• Meeting humanitarian needs

U.S. assistance to the Palestinians is given alongside assistance from other international donors, and U.S. policy makers routinely called for greater or more timely assistance from Arab governments in line with pledges those governments make.

a) In response to the news report of these attacks on civilians, a Washington Post reader commented:  “But we continue to give the Palestinian authority financial aid? How stupid is that?” Do you agree with this reaction? Explain your answer.

b) Another Post reader wrote:
“Israel doesn't do the things the Palestinians do. They don't go around “surprise” attacking tourists. I think Biden should protest more strongly than he did, especially if the dead person was an American. Israel is a civilized country that keeps getting attacked by an uncivilized group of terrorists. And yet Israel is [criticized]? "
Do you agree with this response? Explain your answer.

THIS WAS PART OF B) BUT I TOOK IT OUT:
How about the missiles launched by Iran, with an " Israel must be destroyed", muslim bumper sticker? No wonder Netanyahu refused to meet with Obama. How much more anti-Israel can you get? Israel will continue to be restrained by the US, and other countries, from all the malicious, obvious, anti-Semitism. So the US, after negotiating in good faith, with Iranians, about their missile program, the Iranians put a stupid message like that on a missile? Do you need it spelled out to you? The muslim world will never accept Israel. their mission in life is to destroy Israel. But, Israel will not be allowed to defend itself?…”
c) A third reader commented: “Not condemning! - Abbas's Fatah Party hailed the murder as a martyr. Too bad Biden (or Obama or Hillary or Kerry) doesn't have the more courage to call out [Palestinian President] Abbas for encouraging these attacks….” Do you agree with this reaction? Explain your answer.