Not only has the Palestinian leadership encouraged their youth to take an active role in the violence, the Palestinian terrorists have purposely targeted Israeli children in their brutal attacks.
From the earliest days of the crisis, the Palestinian Authority, aware of the propaganda value to be gained, has actively promoted the participation of children in the anti-Israeli violence. Its schools, summer camps, mosques and official media have engaged in incitement specifically directed at young audiences. Furthermore, the PA has trained children in the use of weapons and has created an atmosphere that extols death in battle and encourages them to become suicide bombers.
The cynical use of children as pawns in the conflict begins in the Palestinian education system. Instead of educating children for peace, as Israel does, Palestinian textbooks (many of which have been recently published by the PA itself) openly teach hatred of Israel and Israelis.
Materials published and broadcast in the official Palestinian media reinforce these lessons, aiming much of its incitement at children, encouraging them to hate Israelis and take part in the violence. Children are urged by television advertisements to "drop your toys and take up arms" while Palestinian education television programming glorifies martyrdom in the struggle against Israel.
Youth groups and official Palestinian Authority summer camps teach children to be "holy warriors" in the Jihad (holy war) against Israel and the Jews, actually training young people in the use of firearms. Educational facilities are used to inspire hero-worship of suicide bombers, psychologically preparing Palestinian children to follow in their footsteps.
Young Palestinians assemble automatic assault rifles at a Palestinian Fatah military-style summer camp graduation in Nablus.
This incessant incitement has encouraged Palestinian children to take an increasingly active role. In the initial stages of the violence, Palestinian children were sent into the streets to throw rocks, firebombs, and grenades at Israeli soldiers.
The PA even provided transportation, busing children to violent flashpoints far from their own neighborhoods. Armed Palestinian policemen and members of the Fatah militia, the Tanzim, often stood just behind this human shield of juvenile "martyrs" and directed gunfire at Israeli soldiers, knowing they can exploit the children's wounds for their propaganda purposes, should Israeli soldiers have to defend themselves. It is no surprise then that in the wake of violent clashes between Palestinian rioters and Israeli soldiers, children were among the casualties.
With the passage of time, as the Palestinian Authority intensified its incitement and expanded its use of children in the violence, young Palestinian boys and girls were increasingly exploited as suicide bombers. The age of suicide bombers is dropping by the day, and attacks carried out by teenagers have become the norm. Younger children, some no more than toddlers, have been used to provide cover for the transportation of weapons and explosives.
The Palestinian Authority's manipulation of children, which has been extensively documented by the media, constitutes a reprehensible violation of every international treaty and convention meant to protect children in situations of armed conflict. The PA's heinous exploitation of children is both profoundly immoral and fundamentally illegal.
Photo of a Palestinian baby dressed as a suicide bomber found in Hebron. When confronted the babys father at first denied knowing anything about the photo.
After further questioning by a representitive from Reuters he claimed it "was just a joke."
It should also be remembered that hundreds of Israeli children have been killed and wounded in terrorist attacks. They were not just "incidental" victims of the violence, but the intended targets of terrorists. They have been deliberately targeted and killed by Palestinian sniper fire and in drive-by machine-gun ambushes.
Palestinian roadside bombs have maimed children in schoolbuses and Israeli youngsters were bludgeoned and stoned to death by terrorists while hiking near their homes. Suicide bombers have murdered dozens of Israel youths, choosing to strike at places where young people are known to congregate - discos, bus stops, fast food resturants and shopping malls.
Although the suffering of every child is tragic and regretful, a basic difference exists between the two sides. Most Palestinian children have been hurt due to their direct participation in violent confrontations, while a minority of the casualties were the unfortunate result of crossfire or return fire directed towards terrorist targets. By contrast, Israeli child victims were deliberately targeted by their terrorist attackers - the intended and preferred victim of the Palestinian bombers, snipers and gunmen.
Shalhevet Pass, age 10 months, was killed by a Palestinian sniper at the entrance to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood of the ancient Jewish community in Hebron. The Palestinian gunman stated he wanted to prove his skill as a sniper.
Shalhevet's mother who was holding her at the time, was slightly injured by fragments from her baby's skull.. Shalhevet was shot in the head from 100 or more yards away.