Memo to President Obama

FOREIGN AID

An Arab-Israeli peace is only possible if Palestinian society is transformed into one that genuinely supports peace with Israel. Without that, no amount of American aid or Israeli concessions will produce peace.

Therefore, American support for the Palestinian Authority — $700 million a year — must be conditional on Palestinian fulfillment of their written agreements from Oslo to the road map to end the incitement to hatred and murder of Jews in the P.A.-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps; arrest terrorists; and dismantle terror groups.

Islamist terror is a threat to societies everywhere, and we must support Israel‘s efforts to defeat Hamas and the other jihadist terror groups. Therefore, in Gaza, a mere cease-fire would be a mistake.

America must assist Israel in rendering Hamas ineffective as a fighting force that can terrorize southern Israel.

A cease-fire, in contrast, offers only a temporary respite and ensures deferring peace, entrenching Hamas further and strengthening Islamist groups everywhere.

Egypt has significant responsibility for the current conflict by permitting the smuggling of weaponry from Iran and Syria through Egypt into Gaza.

Further American aid to Egypt should be conditional on Egypt stopping the trafficking of arms and terrorists into Gaza.

Morton A. Klein is the national president of the Zionist Organization of America.