Europe walks into the strategic trap of a non-existent Palestinian state

In Hebrew, the word for “urge,” dachaf , can be rearranged to form the word pachad , meaning “fear.” And it is fear that is the true force driving the growing chorus of calls from European capitals urging Israel to take “concrete steps” in the direction of Palestinian statehood.

These calls are not the confident, principled proclamations of statesmen anchored in international law or genuine concern for peace. They are thinly veiled attempts to relieve mounting internal tension within European societies, where the streets are increasingly volatile, public squares have turned into arenas of confrontation, and governments are struggling to maintain control in the face of rising political Islam within their borders.

The growing urgency expressed by France, the United Kingdom and other Eu