Biden: Israel Has Right to Track Gaza Contraband

Vice President Joe Biden says Israel has a right to know whether arms are being smuggled in to Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Biden commented yesterday in an interview with PBS' Charlie Rose, which touched on the furor over Israel's attack on a flotilla of ships carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists toward the blockaded territory. Nine people were killed.

Biden told Rose that while Israel's actions dropping troops on the ships can be argued, Jerusalem has a right to know what cargo is headed into Gaza.

A day earlier, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs did not question Israel's motives in trying to enforce its 3-year-old blockade of Gaza. The State Department says Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization.

The United States, unlike most of the world, is not chastising Israel for the raid.

More on the Israeli Raid:

Flotilla Activists Returning to Greece, Turkey
7 Things You May Not Know About the Raid
Washington Unplugged: Israeli U.S. Ambassador on Raid
Israel Raises Concerns Over Relationship with Turkey
Free Gaza Movement Vows Future Missions
Politicians from Both Parties Rally Behind Israel
Photos: Protests against Flotilla Raid

[rebelschild]

AIPAC has certainly gotten its monies worth from Joe as well as our other government officials and congressional members. I'm waiting for them to line the steps of the Capital , snap their heels together and yell "Hail BIBI". As in the past we are allowing the murderers to investigate their own crimes. Compare the investigation into the USS Liberty, that Congress didn't bother to do, or the death of Rachel Corrie, with that of the USS Cole. "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." So much for "change" we need.

[wyodutch]

I wonder when American ploiticians will remember that they are supposed to represent America... not Israel.
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Some interesting facts:
America has an unemployment rate of 9.7%. Israel's unemployment rate is only 7.2%.
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Congress passed and the president signed into law the annual foreign aid bill for fiscal year 2010, which includes $2.22 billion in security assistance to Israel.
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When combined with $555 million of aid in a previous bill, the legislation brings the total amount of aid to Israel in fiscal year 2010 to $2.775 billion - a $225 million increase from last year. Congress has now fully funded the second year of the 10-year, $30 billion U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. In that agreement, signed in 2007, Israel is slated to receive gradual increases in aid for the first four years before leveling off at $3.1 billion per year for the remaining six years.
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[wyodutch]

Washington DC is filled with the best representatives and politicians that Israel can buy.
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Wouldn't it be great if nations like Israel and Egypt quit sucking America's blood and paid their own way in the world?

[Seanyke]

I'm even more sick of hearing that Israel was right to kill a 19-year-old American 4 times in the head not to mention one in the chest just because they wanna help in Gaza. Its for a good cause and what Israel has done is a crime. I'm surprised that Israel has again managed to deflect the blame to the rest of the world now for being biased towards them. The fact that matter is there were 9 deaths from the civilian side and why is that probe can't be conducted? Obviously the Israeli wants to hide their dirty act. I for one believe that we could fall into deception trap by Israel again this time and again and again and again..

[Clementine666]

"Turkey caused this....and no one else." That's probably the most retarded comment I've heard in this sad conflict. Israel boarded a boat filled with food and medicine on INTERNATIONAL WATER!!! Why the eff did they do that? Only pirates would do that!

I'm a native swede and an atheist by the way.

[jeffrey85]

I disagree with the method Israel used but I do have a problem with the Israel bashing. Now when Palestine throws rockets into civilian areas there is no outcry. Why is that? Why are Muslims given a few pass to do what they please? Why does no one have the courage to stand up and denounce them for there actions? Its easy to harp on Israel. Both are at fault Im sick of Israel receiving the bulk of the blame. And as for the territory issue. Why should Israel give it bak. id we forget they took it when they were INVADED? Seriously what good would it do to return it? I mean asside from Hamas being closer to ,ore populated areas?

[GTR5]

What an idiot! Next he will argue that Israel was right in killing a lot of US sailors on the USS Liberty in June 1967. The USS Liberty, a US navy ship that was in international waters was attacked by Israeli thugs and they have gotten away with murder.

[tsigili]

Israel certainly does. The entire Islamist world wants to kill everyone in Israel. Iran has said so, publicly. Turkey is now an Islamist led country, which has gone rogue in backing Iran.

Turkey caused this....and no one else.