Only two months ago, 250 Baltimoreans joined with their Israeli counterparts in our sister city, Ashkelon to build a playground in a wonderful mission by the Associated. 

What a beautiful and peaceful act. Nearby, just south of where Baltimore’s lasting ties to Israel are now enjoyed every day by children, peaceful acts don’t seem to exist. In Gaza, the preference is to build weapons to murder innocent children rather than building infrastructure that will make lives better.

Yesterday, an Israeli man died when a rocket – one of dozens fired that day—struck his minivan just in Sederot, which is just south of Ashkelon. In Ashkelon itself, eight Hamas rockets fell on Thursday, destroying homes and injuring people. (Read more about this.)  These events are now daily occurrences.

Less than three years ago, Israel walked out of Gaza, leaving the Palestinians to govern their own land. We all expected celebration to erupt for their newfound freedom. But it’s so clear that the Palestinians don’t know how to govern, only how to fight. It takes no leadership to be rebels and terrorists; you can’t be a PR darling if you are shown on TV as prosperous and happy. It’s far easier to fire rockets on Israel, inviting necessary retaliation, than to build a civil society.

So now that Hamas has full control of Gaza, of course they chose to terrorize rather then act responsibly. No surprise there, just sadness – sadness that there is no end or solution for the Israelis trying to live in peace.

I’m just proud that the citizens of our sister city, in partnership with friends here in Baltimore, continue to invest in the future by building playgrounds for their children.