As most readers probably know, the American cousin of Mohammed Al-Khdeir, the 16 year old Palestinian Arab killed earlier this week after the bodies of three murdered Jewish teenagers – two Israeli, one American – were found – has apparently been beaten by Israeli police in Jerusalem and arrested.
The international outcry is enormous. But I am most interested in the outcry from the USA.
Here is the statement issued by Department of State spokesperson Jean Psaki, immediately after the arrest took place:
“Wecan confirm that Tariq Khdeir, an American citizen, is being held byIsraeli authorities in Jerusalem. We are profoundly troubled by reports that he was severely beatenwhile in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use offorce. We are calling for a speedy, transparent and credibleinvestigation and full accountability for any excessive use offorce.”
Ooooooohh. Strong words.
Now let\’s talk about the circumstances – which neither Ms. Psaki, nor the State Department, nor President Obama seem terribly concerned about.
Tariq Khdeir was not just some kid walking through Jerusalem who the police picked on. He was engaged in a violent protest, complete with masked Palestinian Arabs armed with rocks and knives, attacking the police.
Assuming he didn\’t have a name tag saying “Hello, my name is Tariq and I\’m Mohammad al-Khder\’s cousin”, the police did not know who he was when they engaged him. To the police he was one of the violent protesters. Why is it not plausible to assume he was one of the rock-throwers? He certainly made it a point to be among them. Do we know if he resisted arrest? Nope.
But that did not stop the State Department, under John Kerry and Barack Obama, to immediately put out a condemnatory statement.
Where was its condemnatory statement after June 12th when the three Jewish teenagers were abducted?
Where was its condemnatory statement after hamas leader, khaled mashaal, said this?
“Noone claimed responsibility so far. I can neither confirm [hamas\’sresponsibility] nor deny it. Blessed be the hands that captured them.This is a Palestinian duty, the responsibility of the Palestinianpeople…”
Where was its condemnatory statement after pictures emerged of Palestinian Arabs gleefully making a “three finger salute”, meant to convey their approval of the abduction? I\’ve posted several such pictures on this blog, and have seen dozens more – they\’re not hard to come by? Google “Palestinian three finger” and see for yourself – you\’ll find countless images like the ones contained in this montage – including the overtly anti-Semitic caricature from Palestinian Arab cartoonist Omayya Joha, and the faces of the three Jewish teens on each finger of the salute, which should make things perfectly clear:
Yes, this is what they teach their children.
Three Jewish kids are abducted, almost certainly by Palestinian Arabs, whose brethren make it clear the abduction thrills them. They are found murdered. And the Obama administration squeezes out a belated, tepid reaction.
One Palestinian Arab teenager is abducted and killed – with no evidence to this moment that Israelis were the abductors (it is quite possible this was an honor killing based on the belief he was gay) (UPDATE – subsequent evidence clearly indicates Israeli\’s killed him), then his cousin is subdued – and apparently beaten, though certainly not in any life-threatening way – by Israeli police while he participates in a violent protest, and the Obama administration jumps through hoops to condemn it immediately.
What does this tell you about Barack Obama and his administration?
Draw your own conclusions. It shouldn\’t be hard to do.
