October 15, 2014 --

The October 3 Times editorial that criticizes, predictably, Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu cited the assertion of the Obama Administration that the construction of new housing in Jerusalem will, among other things, "'call into question' Israel's commitment to a 'peaceful negotiated settlement.'" The editorial begins with the Times's assessment that such construction "will make it harder, maybe impossible, to reach a two-state solution with the Palestinians."

Article 13 of the Hamas Charter rejects peace negotiations with Israel for Jihad against the Jewish State. Hamas, by Article 13, declares its opposition to a two-state solution with Israel, preferring, obviously, a "Final Solution"-approach, with an Islamic State of Palestine rising on the ashes of the Jewish State. The formula of the Hamas position is not land for peace, but land for Jewish graves. The actions of Hamas in launching the 2014 attacks on Israel are consistent with its anti-peace, pro-Jihad approach to a one-state solution for the Palestinians.

Hamas is committed to obliterating Israel , and President Obama and The New York Times accuse Israel of making peace impossible. Such twisting of reality points to invidious intent from both the president and the Times, vis-a-vis the Jewish State, an intent that not only encourages anti-Israel belligerency from the Arabs, but invites "international condemnation" of Israel. As was made clear during the summer, condemnation of Israel for defending itself against Arab belligerency quickly degenerates into anti-Semitic violence.

In August 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy, as the Democratic presidential candidate, wrote a letter to Rabbii Israel Goldstein stating that the Arab "persistence" in maintaining a "state of war" against Israel is the "obstacle" to peace. It is now evident that Israel's enemies have benefited from remaining, for nearly seven decades, in a state of war --now elevated by Hamas to "holy war"-- with Israel.

Either by intentional ignorance or inherent hostility, governments, media outlets and individuals blame Israel when she responds to the belligerency of her enemies that began with the initial Arab aggression against Israel that sought her destruction. Hamas continues to seek Israel's destruction, and the President and The New York Times blame Israel. Blame like this cannot conceal bias.

The latest chastisement of Israel from the Times concludes by indicating that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas plans "to ask the United Nations Security Council to call for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank by the end of 2016." The Times is imprecise on this point; the Palestinian draft calls for Israeli withdrawal from all territory occupied in 1967.

UN Security Council Resolution 242 calls for withdrawal from territories, not from "all terrritories." When it comes to Israel, the New York Times and, I fear, President Obama seem ever alert to find ways and means of enabling and encouraging her enemies.