"Kerry links 'increase in violence' to Israel's settlement activity", proclaimed a recent headline. US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking to an audience at Harvard University Tuesday night (October 13, 2015), claimed that the Arabs are frustrated -- and thereby on a killing spree -- because of construction in Judea and Samaria. He claimed there had been a "massive increase in settlements" over the course of the past year. The US is demanding Israel halt all construction in Judea and Samaria and move forward on a new "peace summit".

As I read Kerry's statements it became quite clear that he is not fully aware of what is going on in Israel at the present time. Or, as better stated by Elliott Abrams, "Kerry does not know what he is talking about". I was a bit puzzled when I read Kerry's statements. I may have been "out of commission" for the past few months but I know that there has not been any major construction in Judea and Samaria, or the founding of any new communities, even over the past year. It's true certain Members of Knesset (MKs) have approved building projects at different times but those decisions were always rescinded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease the US.

What Kerry fails to realize, or is ignorant of, is the terrorists committing the attacks and those supporting them -- including Hamas and the Western-backed Fatah -- have repeatedly stated their acts are due to what they perceive as a coming change in the status quo on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. While Netanyahu has continually stated that there will be no change in the status quo, several MKs and Temple Mount supporters have voiced views to the contrary but nothing has been done. And while it's true the Arabs are always complaining about construction in Judea and Samaria, the subject has not been the focus of the Arab terrorist attacks over the past few weeks. Israel has, over the course of the past few months, placed restrictions on entry to the Temple Mount but that has been due to clashes and violence from the Arabs themselves.

The real problem here is that the United States, along with the UN, EU, and others, won't blame the terrorists or their leaders for the violence. Rather, they blame Israel for defending its citizens on its own soil. Yet, among other recent statements, in a speech broadcast on official Palestinian Authority (PA/PLO) television, PA/PLO President Mahmoud Abbas spoke of the 'Palestinian' people's "right to defend ourselves" and "pursue our national struggle."

Fatah has encouraged rock throwing and stabbings. According to them, stabbing Israelis is "a symphony of love for Jerusalem". A Hamas student group celebrated a Jerusalem bus terror attack with a reenactment" video. A Muslim cleric told Muslims in Israel to stab Jews, "Cut them into body parts". Yet it's Israel who is being blamed for the resulting terror attacks.

While the US continually sends troops all around the world to fight in areas they perceive "might" lead to problems for them, these are not being fought on US soil nor are they an immediate threat to the US population. However, Israel is directly defending its country on its own soil, in the midst of the country -- not thousands of miles away on foreign soil where there may or may not be a threat.

Another emphasis in the news is that of the alleged inequality between Israel's defensive forces (whether it be the IDF or the local police) and the terrorists. Teenagers have carried out several of these attacks. But what is Israel supposed to do? Teenagers or adults, it really makes no difference when someone is sticking a knife in your back, slitting your throat, or trying to take your weapon and use it to kill you and others.

As for the difference in the number of deaths on each side, what has that realy got to do with anything? That is a false argument which is always been brought up in the case of Israel, especially when it has had to defend itself against Gaza. It's not brought up in the case of other, much larger nations. For example, the US is killing a large number of terrorists (or "insurgents" as they prefer to call them) in actions around the world yet no one is crying foul against them.

Who are the real murderers here? Is it those who with full knowledge of what they are about to do, prepare and arm themselves and willingly go out with the sole intent of killing as many people as they can? Or is it those who fight to stop those cold-blooded killers from committing mass murder against the people of the State of Israel? Would the US back down from this type of terrorism on its own soil? Would Britain? Would Russia? Would the Afghanistan soldiers who are fighting the Taliban? Does any other nation in the world back down from defending its citizens against armed terrorists?

Meanwhile, as usual, the players of the world are attempting to renew talks for a two-state [final] solution. Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, stated back in September that, over the last three months, "the Middle East Quartet [the EU, UN, US, and Russia] has actively consulted with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and 'key international partners' on how to preserve the two-state solution and establish conditions for the parties to return to meaningful negotiations" . Once again the nations of the world have decided what they think is best for Israel and expect Israel to follow suit.

Kerry is planning to return to the Middle East soon in an attempt to renew talks with Israel and the PA/PLO. However, even he admits there may not be much more to talk about. While Israel is willing to talk, the only way Abbas wants talks is with unfair preconditions. And despite his statements, Kerry knows that an Israeli-Arab peace deal will not be his nor Obama's legacy.