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leaders see Israel as the problem.

How about the countries that Trump has engaged to pressure for the release of the hostages and to start negotiations for a peace plan? Egypt, Freedom House score 18/100 — not free. Turkey 33/100 — not free.

Qatar 25/100 — not free.

Everyone looks to Saudi Arabia for cues on what to do. Saudi Arabia’s Freedom House ranking is 9/100.

Yet, when the Saudi prince sets a Palestinian State as the condition for peace, no one asks him what, in his view, that state should look like. His?

I recall my first visit to Israel years ago. I saw the plight and struggles of the Palestinian people and was struck at the great similarity between their situation and the economic and political realities in America’s inner cities.

I am talking about populations dominated by a political leadership who instructs them that they have no control over their lives. Their plight, they are told, is entirely because of injustices that have been inflicted by others. Meanwhile, the dismal state of affairs enriches this political leadership.

Hamas leaders are multimillionaires, billionaires — skimming off the riches of mega-dollars flowing from their enablers such as Iran and others.

Similarly in Washington, we have a political class for whom it is very lucrative to perpetuate the culture of blame and dependence and never-ending expansion of government largesse as the solution to all problems.

The secret for the Palestinians, which perhaps by some miracle they will grasp with emergence from this terrible period, is the country that they should emulate is the one that they have been taught to hate — Israel.

Israel is the model of taking personal responsibility for one’s future. It is the model of what happens when people respond to duress by moving forward with an insurmountable will to live and a will to create.

Willingness to admire and emulate success is what my friend George Gilder calls “The Israel Test.”

Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS. COM