As Palestinian Terrorists Murder Jews, State Department Praises Palestinian Leaders for "Progress" in Countering Terrorism

On June 3, 2016, the US State Department released its annual terrorism report, Country Reports on Terrorism 2015, which praised the Palestinian Authority for its "counter-terrorism efforts" and for "making progress" in reducing incitement to violence against Israelis. The report specifically praised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for committing to nonviolence and recognizing Israel - even though on February 3, 2016 Abbas praised the Palestinian who murdered American citizen Richard Lakin on a Jerusalem bus in October 2016 as a "martyr", stated that he "welcomed every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem" (September 16, 2015), said that Israelis "have no right to desecrate" the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (the Temple Mount and the holiest site in Judaism) "with their filthy feet." (September 16, 2015), and has categorically refused to recognize a Jewish state.

In the words of the State Department Report: "The Palestinian Authority (PA) continued its counterterrorism efforts in the West Bank...The PA Security Forces (PASF) constrained those organizations' ability to conduct attacks,.. PA President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his commitment to nonviolence and recognition of the State of Israel. He also continued to express his commitment to pursue an independent Palestinian state through peaceful means... The PA has taken significant steps to ensure that official institutions in the West Bank that fall under its control do not create or disseminate content that incites violence. While some PA leaders have made provocative and inflammatory comments, the PA has made progress in reducing official rhetoric that could be considered incitement to violence... Explicit calls for violence against Israelis, direct exhortations against Jews, and categorical denials by the PA of the possibility of peace with Israel are rare and are generally not tolerated by the leadership."