Palestinians behaving badly

Katrina and Ophelia having overshadowed other news events around the world, you may not have noticed the news coverage from the now Israeli-free Gaza. Celebrations have turned into large scale looting, destruction of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, and even the destruction of valuable greenhouses that produced fruits and vegetables -- not to mention good jobs for Palestinians. Not the kind of actions that inspire hope that the "State" of Palestine will anytime soon peacefully co-exist with its Jewish neighbor.

The latest outrage is the detonation of explosives by the militant group Hamas to open a large hole in the wall built between Gaza and Egypt. The BBC reports that

In chaotic scenes, thousands of Palestinians have streamed over the border in the last few days without undergoing official checks.

Despite this, Egypt says that its Gaza border is officially closed.

The official take is that Palestinians just want to stretch their muscles and feel uncaged. But the Israelis have a pretty good idea of what's really going down:

The mass crossings have raised questions as to whether Egypt can honour its deal with Israel and maintain security along the border, correspondents say.

Many of those crossing have been going to visit relatives stranded on the other side, to buy cheaper food and other goods, or just out of curiosity.

Israel fears militants will exploit the situation to smuggle weapons into Gaza.

Ed Morrisey, in command over at Captain's Quarters, explains why Israel has a right to worry.

The pullout of Israel from Gaza has revealed the Palestinian Authority's security apparatus as an empty shell, a patronage service that lacks any courage or will to impose its authority. Terrorist groups like Hamas now operate at will even to the extent of committing an act of war on the Egyptians, although Egypt has chosen not to view it in that light. Hamas has free reign in Gaza and might well wind up stealing the territory from Mahmoud Abbas altogether, either through the electoral process or simply by outgunning and overwhelming the lackluster PA security forces present in the area.

Egypt had promised to maintain border security on their border with Gaza. Israel has had long experience with weapons smuggling along the border, one of the reasons that they built the wall Hamas just blew up. They have warned the Palestinians who crossed over through the hole that they have to return to Gaza within hours or face arrest. The problem might not come from a reluctance to return, but the materiel they bring back across the border with them when they do.

The Palestinians have not lived up to the expectations of the advocates of their appeasement. When given land, they have used it to pursue terrorism instead of statesmanship. Instead of promoting order and the rule of law, we have seen the rise of a new Mogadishu on the Mediterranean. When they blow holes in the border wall with Israel, will the world expect the Israelis to sit still while Palestinian terrorists flood into Israel to put those weapons to use?

Let's pray we don't have to find out.