Thread by @mishtal

We must remember what happened when Israel tried to make peace with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians did not just say NO to every offer put to them - they armed themselves and started a bloody slaughter of Israeli civilians

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The terrorism did exist before the peace talks - many were horrific - such as the Avivim school bus massacre in 1970 -

Terrorists deliberately attacked the school bus with grenades - 12 people died - 9 of them where children between the ages of 7 and 10.

Before anyone says 'but the settlements' - Palestinian terrorists were killing Jews long before 1967 too. Like in 1954 when terrorists ambushed and boarded a bus on its way from Eilat - and shot dead 11 passengers.

But tragically - the real bloodshed started AFTER Israel had opened up peace talks with Palestinians. The PLO was allowed back in - Israeli troops pulled out - and then Israelis were slaughtered on their streets. Like Afula in March 1994 - attack on a bus - 8 passengers killed.

Buses - so enticing to bloodthirsty terrorists. Lots of innocent people - old and young - all going about their daily routine. They became a key target. Hadera was hit. And then later in 1994 in the heart of Tel Aviv. A suicide bombing on a bus at Dizengoff. 22 slaughtered.

Hate can be as inventive as it is sick. In January 1995 - the Palestinian terrorists added a new trick. A suicide bomber dressed as an Israel soldier at a major bus station near Netanya. 15 minutes later another one at the same spot - killing those who came to help. 21 murdered.

It went on Ashkelon - Ramat Gan - then two suicide bus attacks in Jerusalem in just 7 days. 45 lives stolen and hundreds of families devestated. All whilst Israel hugged the peace process.

Children were often specifically targeted. March 1996 - Purim and children on the streets in fancy dress for Purim. The terrorist couldn't get into the Dizengoff mall - so detonated himself outside.

It went on - attacks big and small. Markets, buses- coffee shops - then in 2000 the second Intifada started - and we found out that whilst Israel had been trying to make peace- the Palestinian factions had used their freedom to arm themselves.

Violence beyond belief - two Israelis made a wrong turn in Ramallah and detained by Palestinian policeman. A crowd of 100s gathered outside and stormed the police HQ. The Israelis were lynched, mutilated - torn apart - and the murderers proudly rejoiced with their bloody hands.

There were hundreds of attacks - some 'successful' - some less so. Israel's streets were flowing with blood. They chose despicable targets. In June 2001 I was on a beach in Tel Aviv and heard the blast. They hit a disco. Just a group of young folk out for fun. 21 murdered.

Two months later - a Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem was hit. 12 people were slaughtered. People queuing up to buy Pizza. Disgracefully @bbc have just given a platform to a member of the Tamimi clan - one of the boasting murderers.

And for every death there were 50 lives that would never be the same. The families of the victims - or the injured - people who 'survived' - even though their lives were destroyed. Like Chana Nachenberg - who still lies in a vegetative state in hospital - 19 years later.

Killing Jews as they celebrated Jewish holidays was always the favourite. In March 2002 - Hamas struck a Passover Seder in Netanya - where 250 Jews sat to enjoy the service and meal. In this brutal and heartless attack - 30 never made it out alive.

On and on it went. Matzhah restuarant, Mikes Place, the Hebrew University, Cafe Bialik, Cafe Hillel, more malls, more buses - more victims. In every city in Israel - innocent victims murdered and countless familes destroyed.

And the terrorist groups LOVED their 'martyrs'. In 2003 after a female law student (and murdering terrorist) Hanadi Jaradat, slaughtered 21 people at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa - Islamic Jihad called her the 'Bride of Haifa'.

Eventually, the Israelis built a fence to stop the attacks - and the more the fence went up - the lower the number of attacks. The 'security fence' worked. The mass bombings in Israel stopped only because Israel had impaired the terrorist ability to carry them out.

More attempts for peace - when Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 - Hamas took over and since then have launched 10000s of rockets on Israel. There have been 3 wars and numerous smaller bouts of violence. When Israel cedes land - radical Islamic terrorism takes over - EVERY TIME

So Israel built 'Iron dome' to stop the terrorist rockets hitting civilians. That worked too. The 'wall' and 'Iron dome' saved countless lives.

Attacks tragically still happen - stabbings - car ramming - rockets. The terrorists still want to kill Jews - but can't kill as many.

And the lessons the Israelis learned have saved countless lives everwhere in the west. At our airports - on our streets. As the Israelis managed to improve intelligence gathering and reduce the terror - they shared that expertise with everyone. We all became safer.

But people forget - especially younger folk. The image of burnt buses fades - and people just see the wall, the Iron dome and Israeli soldiers.

But we learnt a brutal lesson

We remember what happened when we tried to make peace with the Palestinians. We know the truth.