The sight of crowds of Arabs dancing and rejoicing at the news of the heinous murder of innocent Jews on Saturday night - made the blood boil. The heart leapt to see the candy-guzzling, bloodthirsty ones. Helpless rage filled us at the sight of the expressions of joy and laughter of Arabs working and studying with us, and it turns out that they are supporters of murderous terrorism in every sense of the word.
But these images also taught us how false the definition of 'lone wolf terrorism' is. They are not individuals at all. They act on behalf of a public that incites them, backs them, supports them, and pays their families generous allowances for their despicable actions.
Therefore, dealing with the single perpetrator, with all its importance, is not the main thing. Chasing the murderers, harming them, sealing off their homes - do not provide a true and decisive answer to terrorism, because the brainwashing of hatred of Israel will only breed more and more perpetrators.
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The equation will change.
There is only one way to stop terrorism - to make the Arab population rise up against it. It is clear that this will not happen out of love for Israel. It will happen if we succeed in making the Arab public feel that the terrorism directed against us harms them much more. Then, if a terrorist attack occurs, they will not run away and flee, because it will be clear to them that a much greater disaster will now befall them.
This principle is so simple, but we avoid acting on it because we want to avoid calling a child by its name - war between nations. That is why terrorism is treated as a criminal offense, in which the perpetrator is sought out and put in prison.
Herein lies the big mistake.
Imagine if the response to the attack on Saturday night had been a government decision to establish seven more new settlements or seven new neighborhoods in Jerusalem. The smiles of joy would have quickly been wiped from the faces of the Arab celebrants.
Or a response in the form of the immediate demolition of hundreds of illegal structures built by the Arabs. The message such a step would convey is clear and unambiguous - until now we may have turned a blind eye, but when our blood is shed, every illegal structure will be demolished immediately.
There is no doubt that if such a consistent policy is adopted, the equation will quickly change from one extreme to the other. Our enemies will understand that any attack they carry out on us will immediately result in a more serious harm to their interests and will further strengthen the Jewish hold on our country. Trust them to take care to prevent attacks.
A response that is comforting
Such a response is called for even without regard to deterring terrorism. Jewish tradition believes in the notion that the proper commemoration of our loved ones is by building and doing the things that were dear to their hearts.
When Jews are murdered for their very lives in the Land of Israel - there is no appropriate commemoration other than a new wave of construction in the land of our ancestors.
This is also the true consolation that can be given to the families of the victims, seeing that the blood of their loved ones was not shed in vain, and that out of the heartbreak and pain, new life was created, and "children play in the streets" of the new neighborhood or settlement that was built in their name.
There are people in the current government who understand this, and I hope they will take these essential steps.
