Kidnapping Children Illegal by International Law

Eli E. Hertz | June 20, 2014

"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."

Golda Meir, former Israeli Prime Minister, 1972

What kind of a society consciously and purposely sacrifices its own youth for political gain and tactical advantage? Palestinian Arabs, whose overwhelming majority, nurture a blind hatred of Israel have  created a cultural milieu of vengeance, violence and death,  preparing their children to be sacrifices in a death cult of suicide bombers. Suicide bombing is an escalation of a small-arms war introduced during the first Intifada (1987-1993 Palestinian’s uprising) and championed by Palestinian leaders. Proud parents dress up their toddlers, not in clown costumes, but with suicide belts. Countless others celebrate their children’s deaths with traditional sweet holiday cakes and candies.

Around the world, children are precious gifts to their parents and keys to the future. The loving care we invest in our own children is a human trait that unites different cultures: rich and poor, traditional and hi-tech. The toughest job parents have is to raise their children while making everyday sacrifices and decisions for them. We hug our children, love them and watch them grow up. We pray each day that they will come to no harm and do everything we can to ensure that outcome.

When Arab children are killed or injured, it makes headlines in Western media reports. Rather than investigate who is behind the participation of children in armed confrontation, however, Western journalists tend to report only what they see on the streets.

Moreover, the age-old news adage, “If it bleeds, it leads,” is all the more true when the victims are children. No matter what the circumstances, the sight of a wounded or dead child is heartrending.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by UN General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989
entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49

Relevant articles as stated in the present Convention:

Article 35- Parties (PA included) shall take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent the abduction of, the sale of, or traffic in children for any purpose or in any form.

Article 37 – No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment …