Today’s quote comes to us from former President Barack Obama.
Speaking at an event sponsored by his foundation, Mr. Obama had this to say about the Israel-hamas conflict:
“All of this is taking place against the backdrop of decades of failure to achieve a durable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“One that is based on genuine security for Israel, a recognition of its right to exist, and a peace that is based on an end of the occupation and the creation of a viable state and self-determination for the Palestinian people.”
“Now, I will admit, it is impossible to be dispassionate in the face of this carnage.
“It is hard to feel hopeful. The images of families mourning, of bodies being pulled from rubble, force a moral reckoning on all of us.”
“And the issue is not a wish for different outcomes – an end to the killing, peaceful coexistence between two sovereign and free peoples – but rather different assessments of the path that we need to take in order to get there.”
Fascinating commentary.
In the world of Barack Obama:
-Israel deserves security and a right to exist (whew, got that out of the way. Now we can talk).
But…:
-The two sides have failed to achieve a durable peace – i.e. Mr. Obama suggests there is equivalency between Israel and Palestinian Arabs on this issue, despite the fact that Palestinian Arabs – not Israelis, Palestinian Arabs – have rejected every offer of peace and/or a so-called “two state solution” ever offered;
-Obama accuses Israel of an “occupation”: occupation of WHAT? Palestinian Arabs have Judea and Samaria because Israel voluntarily gave it up. Palestinian Arabs have Gaza because Israel voluntarily gave it up. Israel doesn’t have troops in those land areas overseeing what the people there do.
Here’s a quiz for you: name another country in world history that voluntarily gave up contiguous land to an enemy sworn to its annihilation. Take your time, because you won’t find that country. Israel is literally the one and only;
-Yes, bodies are being pulled from the rubble in Gaza…because Gaza, true to its own covenant, massacred 1,200-1,400 Israeli civilians and Israel – how dare them – is fighting back.
Nice of Mr. Obama not to mention that Israel held up this invasion for almost two weeks, while exhorting civilians to get out of harm’s way – another action that no other country has ever done. And nice of him not to mention that one of hamas’ leaders, just this week, specifically and proudly promised more October 7th massacres in the future;
-The issue IS a wish for different outcomes. Israel has spent 75 years trying to exist peacefully with Arabs. And Arabs, with a few belated exceptions, have spent 75 years trying to wipe Israel and its Jews off the face of the earth.
In the case of Gaza specifically, hamas’ own covenant calls for the obliteration of Israel (second paragraph)and death to every Jew (Article 7). Not just in Israel but everywhere. Does that come across to you as a desire for similar outcomes?
As President, Barack Obama spent 8 years demonstrating, at best, coolness to Israel, but mostly outright hostility.
I award him Quote Of The Day “honors” for, even now, displaying the mindset that caused his behavior then. Some things never change.
