Politicians from Both Parties Rally Behind Israel Following Raid

AP

American lawmakers in both parties today expressed support for Israel in the wake of growing international condemnation of the country following its deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip.

"This was about instigating an altercation and they succeeded," New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner (pictured) told the Washington Post, speaking of the activists on the flotilla. "... They were offered alternatives. Instead they chose to sail into the teeth of an internationally recognized blockade."

"Anything that Israel does would create an international outcry," he added. "This entire effort was intended to create an international outcry."

Republican Sarah Palin, meanwhile, hit a familiar theme, criticizing the mainstream media for its coverage of the event on Facebook - while also coming to Israel's defense.

"As far too many in the media, and in various governments, rush to condemn Israel, we must put the recent events off Israel's coast into the right perspective," she writes. "This 'relief' convoy was not about humanitarian aid, as the liberal mainstream media keeps reporting. The whole operation was designed to provoke Israel, not to provide supplies to Palestinians held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Anyone who sees the video of Israeli commandos being attacked as they land on that ship knows the people aboard were vicious thugs, not 'peace activists.' The media insults our intelligence with their outright mischaracterization of who these enemies are."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich hit many of the same notes, telling Politico: "The U.S., through the United Nations relief organization, has been funding food and shelter for the people of Gaza for 60 years now. There was no humanitarian crisis; this was a deliberate political effort on the part of people who want to try to undermine the survival of Israel."

New York Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman, meanwhile, told Politico that Hamas is the "true villain in this drama," while Florida Democratic Rep. Ron Klein, echoing some House colleagues, said the following: "As Israel continues to be unjustly challenged on the international stage, the United States must continue its efforts to stand up for Israel's self-defense."

The White House has tried to stake out a more cautious position on the raid, standing by a U.N. Security Council statement condemning "acts which resulted in the loss of at least ten civilians and many wounded," without specifying who was responsible for those acts.

The administration's careful rhetoric on the matter can be seen in a readout provided of President Obama's phone call today with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr. Obama "affirmed the United States position in support of a credible, impartial, and transparent investigation of the facts surrounding this tragedy," the White House said. "The President affirmed the importance of finding better ways to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza without undermining Israel's security. He underscored the importance of a comprehensive peace agreement which establishes an independent, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state as the way to resolve the overall situation and the United States' continuing commitment to achieving that goal by working closely with Turkey, Israel, and others with a stake in a more stable and secure Middle East."

[mnguyen4]

Our lawmakers are not making their decisions based on morality or their constituents? needs; rather, decisions are made based on financial support from the pro-Israel lobby groups. The activists gave their lives trying to end the 3 year old Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Yet, our lawmakers naively liken these activists as 911 terrorists, rather than to Gandhi or to Martin L. King.

There is an Arab saying, ?The enemy of my enemy is my friend.? Right now, Washington wants to widen the war against Muslim militants all over the World. Israel is the perfect ally. Washington wants to impose some kind of ?blockade? on Iran. Israel is one nation in the United Nations to wholeheartedly support this US idea. The Jerusalem Post published an article of an Israeli nuclear missile submarine being permanently stationed off the coast of Iran, for the first time in history. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that his government will not allow Gaza to become ?an Iranian port?.

[Perochka]

Interesting how these bought-and-sold-by-AIPAC schills defend Israel even though they shot an unarmed American citizen several times in the head. Our Zionist-run government will always work for Israel's benefit over that of Amercans' security.

[benalbanach]

Sad is it not that justice and right can be bought and sold for votes and dollars.

[rambotheshark]

The gall of Wiener to say that they were breaking an internationally recognized blockade is mind boggling. The only international recognition it has received is by the UN saying it is ILLEGAL. It is an ILLEGAL blockade.

Good journalism would have pointed that out too, but the mainstream media in this country is pathetic.

[p_syrus]

These people are supporting the intentional murder of turkish citizens defending themselves on the high seas by israeli military commandos engaged in an illegal seizure of a vessel (i.e. piracy). It's long past time they were voted out of office.

[Nibiru2011]

Israel has weathered world outrage over its policies toward Palestinians and its Arab neighbors often in the past, largely because it could rely on Washington to veto hostile resolutions at the U.N. Security Council and protect it from any punishment. Anthony Weiner is right, Israel should just keep starving and terrorizing the Palestinians and taking their land, because the Jews are God's chosen people!

[haroldburbank]

Obama should order the Navy to escort the current flotilla to Gaza and ward off by all means necessary any new attack by Israel. The blockade is illegal.

[ralphiesmom]

"I bet these same supporters would stand up for Israel if the bombed a U.S. city or shot down a U.S. commercial aircraft."

As of course Israel did do back in 1967. It attacked the U.S.S. LIBERTY, a U.S. Navy ship off the coast of Egypt and killed 34 sailors. When another U.S. ship tried to send fighter jets to stop the Israeli attack, President Johnson ordered them back. When will we stop supporting Israeli war crimes? Congress is a disgrace!
http://www.usslibertyveterans.org/

[joecatron]

Israel could open a literal death camp, complete with gas chambers and ovens, and Anthony Weiner would ask to headline a fundraiser for it.

[nomifla]

Its astonishing but Israel can literaly get away with murder and it will find supporters in the U.S. Congress. Its nothing news and one of the major hurdles to a lasting peace agreement. I bet these same supporters would stand up for Israel if the bombed a U.S. city or shot down a U.S. commercial aircraft. Pathetic!