The repeated comments by the Obama administration make clear that the United States abhors the use of terrorism against civilians, but considers the tactic in relation to potential goals of the groups.
Spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, John Kirby
On June 30, 2016, the spokesperson for the US Secretary of State, John Kirby gave his daily press briefing. He opened with a story about the terrorist attack against a young Israeli girl who was killed in her bed. Kirby appropriately described the “brutal act of terrorism,” however, his subsequent remarks went in a strange direction.
Consider which of these statements Kirby made on June 30 about terrorism:
- “reiterated our steadfast commitment to our partnership with [Israel], in the shared fight against terrorism.”
- “This incident during the Holy Month of Ramadan underscores the extremists’ complete disregard for human life and the harm that they continue to inflict on the [Israeli] people. Attacks like these are going to only deepen our support for the people and the Government of [Israel] and their efforts to bring security and stability to their country.”
- “we remain committed to supporting our [Israeli] partners in their fight against [Hamas] as we continue to work with [Israel] to bolster their efforts to end this wanton violence and to restore peace.”
Those are strong comments of support for the government. They are determined calls to fight against terrorism.
Unfortunately, the US Department of State did not make any of these comments about the terrorism in Israel. Only for other countries.
The first comment was about Turkey, the second about Afghanistan, and the third about Cameroon fighting Boko Haram.
When it came to terrorist attacks against Israelis, all the State Department could muster was that “there’s just absolutely no justification for terrorism.” Why would anyone even think there’s a justification for terrorism? Why make such a comment only for Israel? Why withhold voicing support to fight against the terrorists as Kirby immediately did for all of the terrorist attacks in other countries?
The World Doesn’t Want Israel to Fight Palestinian Arab Terrorists
This unwillingness to support Israel in fighting terrorists is similar to the Obama administration’s brother-in-arms, the United Nations, which repeatedly expresses its solidarity with countries in their fight against terrorism, but never stands with Israel in its efforts, as detailed in “Ban Ki Moon Has No Solidarity with Israel.”
Why doesn’t the US or the UN express support for Israel’s fight on terrorism? A few reasons:
- The US dislikes the tactic of terrorism
- The US ignores the stated goals of some terrorists
- The US ignores the wishes of the majority of Palestinian Arabs
The repeated comments by the Obama administration make clear that the United States abhors the use of terrorism against civilians, but considers the tactic in relation to potential goals of the groups. For example, the Islamic State/ ISIS wants to replace Iraq and Syria and much of the Middle East with a new caliphate. Boko Haram wants to create an Islamic State in Nigeria. The Kurds want independence from Turkey in their own country. These are goals that the Obama administration does not support so he voices his support to fight against terrorism in those instances because he does not support the terrorists’ mission. (Why Obama turns his back on an actual distinct ethnic group like the Kurds who seek independence, but rallies behind Palestinian Arabs who are part of the broader Arab world is a mystery to analyze another time.)
What angers many people in the pro-Israel community, is the willful ignorance of Obama and UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon about the stated objectives of Palestinian Arab terrorists. The Hamas Charter states clearly its goals for killing Jews and destroying Israel. The Fatah Constitution, which Obama likes to call “moderate,” calls for wiping out the “Zionist invasion.” These are not calls for an independent country alongside Israel, but replacing Israel.
But the US and UN do not want Israel to “fight against terrorism” the way that other governments do to protect their citizens, because they would like to see the establishment of a new state of Palestine. As such, the US condemns Palestinian terrorism (the UN almost never does), but will not advocate a forceful response to “end this wanton violence.”
Terrorism by a Community, Not a Small Group
The terrorism against Israelis does not sit in a small Gazan vacuum.
The majority of Palestinian Arabs want to see violence. A Palestinian poll in June 2016 showed that 65% of Palestinian Arabs supported the bus bombing in Jerusalem in mid-April. A majority of 54% supported the return to an armed intifada.
Additionally, an ADL poll in May 2014 found that almost every single Palestinian Arab – 93% – were anti-semitic.
How then does one deal with a hatred and terrorism that is supported so broadly among Palestinian Arabs?
If the elected leadership and the majority of the people support terrorism, should it continue to be called “terrorism,” or should it be called “war?”
Terrorism continues around the world and the Obama administration condemns it, but it refuses to support Israel’s active defense of its citizens, even while supporting every other country in the world in the same breath.
How should Israel supporters feel?
Related First.One.Through articles:
Select Support in Fighting Terrorism from the US State Department
US State Department Comments on Terrorism in Israel and the Territories
The US State Department’s Selective Preference of “Status Quos”
The United States Joins the Silent Chorus
IL must ignore the USSD who is involved in the war against Israel. Just like the Foreign office and de Quai d’ Orsay.
@ Bert:
Action speaks louder than words. There is insufficient Israeli action to stop the violence.
Any deterrence gained is lost. Unfortunately, even if Netanyahu is prepared for this call now, he probably wants to see Obama safely out of office prior, as the radical jihadist president will impose sanctions and support a UNSC agenda by withholding a veto. I am sure this is an extremely painful moment for The PM. I hope the IDF is instructed to root out the entire terrorist infrastructure, expel ALL terrorists, in the broadest sense and turn it into a military zone after all structures not needed by the IDF are razed.
Unfortunately there is NO strong bold voice from Israel or from U.S. Jews to condemn and excoriate Obama and his State Department in the strongest language. Our side is timid and fearful of offending anyone which only encourages the terrorists and their apologists.
Articles like this are defensive and display weakness. Unfortunately there is NO strong bold voice from Israel or from U.S. Jews to condemn and excoriate Obama and his State Department in the strongest language. Our side is timid and fearful of offending anyone which only encourages the terrorists and their apologists.