Perhaps you have seen the full-page advertisement with this attention-getting headline: “Jews rejected child sacrifice 3,500 years ago. Now it’s Hamas’ turn.” Nobel Peace Laureate Ellie Wiesel is calling on Hamas and others in the Muslim world to reject the practice of using children as human shields or suicide bombers.

He begins with biblical history. Over three thousand years ago, God stopped Abraham from killing his son. Both sons (Isaac and Ishmael) received promises that they would father great nations. He concludes that the Canaanite practices of child sacrifice to Moloch were forever left behind. Unfortunately, they were not left behind.

He says that the real battle today is not between Jew versus Arab or Israeli versus Palestinian. “Rather, it is a battle between those who celebrate life and those who champion death. It is a battle of civilization versus barbarism.”

He observes that the two cultures “that brought us the Psalms of David and the rich libraries of the Ottoman Empire” share a love of life. What a contrast to the dark future offered by Hamas. Parents in Gaza City and in Tel Aviv want peace, but they will not experience it as long at the Hama death cult reigns.

He says that moderate men and women of faith “must shift their criticism from the Israeli soldiers” and focus instead on “the terrorists who have taken away all choice from the Palestinian children of Gaza.” He believes the Palestinian people should find true Muslims to represent them and truly value life. They should find Muslims who would never place children in danger.

His goal is to “return child sacrifice to the darkest corner of history, and work towards a brighter future with those who choose life.” Although I share his hope, I do have my doubts about whether we can indeed achieve such a goal. Nevertheless, we should continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.