Victor Davis Hanson: Try a Little Honesty About Israel

The scarf people on campus chant phrases given to them without an original thought from their mouths. TD

Victor Davis Hanson; PJ Media

If Hamas had come out of its tunnels, separated from its impressed civilian shields, released its surviving Israeli hostages, and either openly fought the Israeli Defense Forces or surrendered the organizers of the October 7 massacre, no Gaza civilians would have died.

"Scan news accounts of anti-Israel campus and street protestors. Read their demands and manifestos. Collate the confusion after October 7 from the Biden administration. Here are 10 of their most common untruths about October 7 and the war that followed.

"Progressive Hamas"

"Gay and transgender student protestors in America would be in mortal danger in Gaza under a fascistic Hamas that has banned homosexual acts and lifestyles. Anyone protesting publicly against Hamas or its allies would be arrested and severely punished.

"Women are segregated in most Hamas-run educational institutions. Under the Hamas charter, women are valued mostly as child-bearers. By design, there are almost no women in high positions in business or in government under Hamas.

" 'Colonists and settlers"

"Students scream that Israelis are "settlers" and "colonists" and sometimes yell at Jewish students to "go back to Poland."

"But the Jewish presence in present-day Israel is deeply rooted in ancient tradition. Dating back at least three millennia, the concept of "Israel" as a distinct Jewish state, situated roughly in its current location, is ingrained in history.

"By contrast, the much later Arab invasions of the Byzantine-controlled Levant and their arrival in Palestine occurred about 1,800 years after the establishment of a Jewish Israel.

" 'Two-state solution"

"When student protestors scream "From the river to the sea," that is not advocacy for a two-state solution." . . .

"It is a call to eliminate the state of Israel -- lying in between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea -- and its 10 million Jewish and Arab citizens. The Hamas charter is a one-state/no-Israel agenda, which we saw attempted on October 7." . . .

In Maine "New Mainers" equals "Biden newcomers" equals illegal aliens (by definition)

 

Guess where she will get those workers! Maine Governor Wants to Resettle 75,000 Foreign-Born Migrants in Maine by 2029 - The Maine Wire

. . ."Mills told the liberal Portland Press Herald newspaper that the goal of attracting 75,000 migrant workers to Maine is part of her plan to supply businesses in Maine with “New Mainers” to fill job vacancies.

“ 'New Mainers” is a euphemism that progressives and left-wing nonprofits in Maine have adopted to refer to migrants, refugees, asylum applicants, and illegal aliens who have settled in Maine. Some newspapers in the state have adopted the term as well.

It’s unclear whether Gov. Mills intends for those 75,000 new workers to come exclusively from foreign-born migration. Her office hasn’t clarified what it meant and her communications aides did not respond to inquiries Thursday.

The plan will be crafted by the governor’s advisors and delivered to her next year, so right now it’s not clear exactly how the migrant resettlement office would be funded, how expensive it would be for taxpayers, or whether it would be a cabinet level agency.

Republican lawmakers quickly panned the idea, questioning Mills’ prioritization of current and future migrants over the needs of Maine citizens. Some noted the governor’s refusal to support a bipartisan plan that would create a new cabinet level agency for child protective services.

“I hope the governor corrects her statement about adding 75,000 asylum seekers to the state of Maine,” House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) told the Maine Wire.

“Her office has grossly mishandled the asylum seeker situation,” Faulkingham said. “How does she propose increasing the population of the state by five percent when her solution for a few hundred asylum seekers is hotels and basketball stadiums?”

The Gov may appreciate this:   

“Who called this girl to the stage? Never repeat this. You’ll face consequences if you do.”
~ Whether it is ‘literate’ #Kerala or lawless Kandahar, the mindset is the same. pic.twitter.com/m87nUWBXfW

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) May 10, 2024

A near-total arms embargo imposed by the Biden administration against Israel

A Mother's Day gift for Rashida Tlaib? Votes for Democrats? Biden may not be Neville Chamberlain; that man grew angry at the Nazis and declared war over their attacking Poland. With Biden Democrats ruling will America's allies ever be able to live in peace? Are there any Democrats in this nation who are not contemptible? TD

 Bauer and Rose: Biden = Hamas? Can this really be happening?  

 "In this episode of The Bauer and Rose Podcast, Gary Bauer and Tom Rose tackle the startling development of a near-total arms embargo imposed by the Biden administration against Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas. From the heart of Israel, Tom shares firsthand the grim reality of this unprecedented move by a U.S. President and the potentially catastrophic consequences for both Israel and America's future.

"Also, Gary and Tom dive into the ideological war at play, examining how anti-Semitism and the weakening of the U.S.-Israel bond are being exploited to undermine the very foundations of Western civilization. They discuss the Biden administration's strategy, which seems to pander to radical elements within the Democratic Party and the chilling silence from traditional Republican leaders in response to these alarming developments.

"Later, the discussion veers into the ongoing legal saga of former President Donald Trump, as Bauer and Rose criticize the judicial process and the potential implications of Trump's treatment for the state of American democracy. They ponder the eerie silence of the GOP stalwarts and the media's role in shaping public perception.

"Finally, the episode touches on the broader cultural war, from the indoctrination in elite universities to the erosion of American pride and identity. Gary and Tom issue a powerful call to action, urging listeners to recognize the gravity of the moment and the need to stand firm against the forces seeking to dismantle the nation's core values.

Gaza: Human Rights Council resolution urges arms embargo on Israel | UN News

The UN’s top human rights body adopted a resolution on Friday condemning the alleged “use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza”, while also calling for an arms embargo on Israel. 

"Call it what it is: a U.S. arms embargo against Israel. That’s the astonishing story this week as the Biden Administration confirms it is blocking the delivery of weapons to its main ally in the Middle East.

"The Administration would like to focus on the denial of 2,000-pound bombs, which it says are too destructive. Never mind that a professional force can employ them in a manner that restricts the radius of damage. Mr. Biden is also halting a shipment of 500-pound bombs and holding up Joint Direct Attack Munitions, which convert unguided bombs into precision “smart” bombs. Politico reports that Small Diameter Bombs are being withheld. The Journal adds that the Biden Administration has been sitting on a deal that includes tank shells and mortar rounds.

"The message from the White House, in other words, is that Israel shouldn’t have large bombs or small bombs, dumb bombs or smart bombs, and let it do without tanks and artillery too. Now isn’t a good time to send the weapons, you see, because Israel would use them." . . .

College idiots calling for ‘Intifada’ have no idea how many innocents have died from that word

Some of the bodies were lying in piles. This is what Intifada means. But perhaps the students at Columbia don’t care about those 21 people who never grew up. Perhaps they think, like Columbia protest leader Khymani James (pronouns he/she/they), that it doesn’t matter. As he said recently, “Zionists don’t deserve to live. I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die.” 

Intifada.

Douglas Murray (nypost.com)  This one is for the morons.

"For the students busily cosplaying at being terrorists on our city’s campuses.

"The automatons whose new radical-chic uniform is an Arab keffiyeh.

"Specifically to the ones who have decided to chant for “Intifada” and unveil a vast banner down the side of Hamilton Hall at Columbia this week.

"“Intifada,” the banner said, in huge letters as the mob below shrieked approval.

"Most of these students weren’t born when the Palestinians last had an “Intifada.”

"So although youth and ignorance aren’t any real excuse, perhaps I can educate these students about what they are actually calling for.

"I invite them to “do the work” of understanding what it means when people call for “Intifada” and what it actually means." . . .

Argus Hamilton's Rogue Report

Argus Hamilton (jewishworldreview.com) May 9, 2024 

 • The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes premiere was held on Hollywood Boulevard Friday with the movie's apes arriving at the movie theater on horseback. It's set in the future. In the movie, the apes take over everything and within one month the federal budget is balanced and the border is secured.

• The California legislature is considering a new bill that would greatly increase the number of grocery store checkers to help reduce self-checkout theft. At the grocery store register today, the guy scanning my groceries was arrogant, impatient and snotty. It's the last time I use self check-out.

• Tom Brady's roast on Netflix bombed Friday because no one showed up with any jokes except Jeffrey Ross. Comedy won't be Tom's strength on Fox Sports next fall. We all agree Tom is smooth and articulate and smart, but he needs at least three more concussions to be as funny as Terry Bradshaw.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art hosted its annual gala fundraiser in New York for members of the Social Register as well as notables in business, politics and entertainment. Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian came to the Met Ball dressed exactly alike. They went as Interstate 95.

• The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed star tight end and Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce for two years for $34 million. Kelce's ex-girlfriend told TMZ he was always drunk and Taylor just called herself a functioning alcoholic. They've made it to age 34 in this condition, tying my Los Angeles record.

• The Donald Trump trial teaches young men guidelines for happiness not found in The Art of the Deal. Find a woman who loves you, a woman who loves having sex with you, a woman you can trust, a woman you genuinely like. And, most importantly, make sure that these four women never meet.

• Bill Maher urged President Biden to step aside for another Democratic candidate Friday while Jon Stewart told an L.A. crowd that Biden is just too old. Neither comedian added a punch line to the thought. Bill and Jon may be jealous because they're only 10 years behind Joe but he's remained funny.

• Governor Kristi Noem took out passages from her book that claim she met North Korea's Kim Jung Un. Too bad it never happened. If Kristi needed to put down her dog Cricket, she could have gifted the dog to Kim Jung Un and 2 hours and 450 degrees later he'd have enjoyed Cricket under Glass.  End quote

Let Them Destroy Each Other

 Kurt Schlichter (townhall.com)

 Palestinians will continue to suffer until Hamas is eradicated. And, as for the hostages held by Hamas (including Americans), this betrayal of Israel makes their release much more difficult.Biden continues to fail on every tough foreign policy call. And it’s all to gain the votes of self-hating Americans." Katie Pavlich 

"Contrary to popular conservative opinion, I don’t want this college chaos to end anytime soon. I want it to increase and metastasize and continue right up until these entitled, ugly, mutated communist jerks totally alienate every normal American. It’s already happening. The frat boys have turned. The normals are turning. At one of these colleges, you had the theater major graduation ceremony invaded by Palesimpians and the parents began chanting, “USA! USA!” Will this and the administrations’ feeble response help flush these institutions’ bloated reputations down the crapper? Yes, please! So, keep it up, communist dipwads. I’m loving this.

"This is definitely one of those “Can you both lose?” situations. We have left-wing faculty and administrators at the keffiyeh-clad throats of communist students on blue campuses in mostly blue cities in blue states, and all I can say is I hope they both lose. They are certainly losing the respect of normal people. There was a time when these colleges were prestigious organizations whose diplomas meant something. They mean something now, too – a warning: “Caution – The bearer is a whiny snowflake with delusions of competence.”

"I’m biased since I want to destroy so-called elite academia as currently constituted. It has become a narrow gate within our culture that the left’s gatekeepers are using by curating admissions to create the ruling class of the future. DEI is part of the agenda. “Diversity” means “People we think will make good communist cadre.” If you’re a straight white guy who identifies as a guy, you’re not getting into one of these colleges. You’re just not. A straight white dude has about as much chance as a straight Asian dude, which is to say, “Not much.” That’s not who the left wants as the ruling class of the future – too left-averse as a whole. And they have succeeded in managing campus demography. Look at the protesters. It’s a diverse collection of SSRI-ridden neurotic females and goofy femboys." . . .  

Liz Cheney must just now regret her support for Biden and Democrats. Trump would have supported Israel over Hamas. TD  

Withholding aid to Israel is wrong and dangerous. America must not abandon Israel. Doing so would mean victory for Iran and all its terrorist allies.

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 9, 2024

The Left Refuses to See Jewish Suffering

  The Atlantic

After the brutal violence committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians, I looked around for my friends on the left and felt alone.

RealityBites by Broc Smith, Blog at WordPress.com.

“ 'Did they really decapitate babies?” my 14-year-old daughter asked me yesterday. She was pointing to a text message on her phone from a friend. “They’re saying they found Jewish babies killed, some burnt, some decapitated.” And I froze. Not because I didn’t know what to say—though in truth I didn’t know what to say—but because for a moment I forgot what century I was in. All of the assumptions I had made as a Jewish father, even one who had grown up, as I did, with the Holocaust just a few decades past, were suddenly no longer relevant. Had I adequately prepared her for the reality of Jewish death, what every shtetl child for centuries would have known intimately? Later in the day, she asked if, for safety’s sake, she should take off the necklace she loves that her grandparents had given her and that has her name written out in Hebrew script.

"The attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians last Saturday broke something in me. I had always resisted victimhood. It felt abhorrent, self-pitying to me in a world that seemed far away from the  Inquisition  and Babi Yar —especially in the United States, where I live and where polls repeatedly tell me that Jews are more beloved than any other religious group. I wasn’t blind to anti-Semitism and the ways it had recently become deadlier, or to the existential dread that my family in Israel felt every time terrorists blew up a bus or café—it’s a story whose sorrows have punctuated my entire life. . . ."  The rest is, sadly, behind a pay wall. TD

The Anti-Israel Left Needs to Take a Hard Look at Itself  . . ."On Saturday morning in southern Israel, Hamas murdered hundreds of people at a music festival and kidnapped others at gunpoint to serve as human shields in Gaza. On Sunday afternoon in Midtown Manhattan, a speaker at a rally of pro-Palestinian and left-wing groups celebrated that atrocity — one of thousands suffered by Israelis over the past few days, which we later learned included the killing of babies and toddlers." . . .

There are more photos of new member of Congress Rashida Tlaib with a Palestinian flag than with an American flag

Gaza war: blaming Israel for October 7 Hamas attack makes peace less – not more – likely (theconversation.com)  . . ."Hamas’s horrific attack, which included physical and psychological torture, mass rape and the taking of more than 200 hostages, left Israeli society deeply traumatised. Responses that focus only on Palestinian victimhood and dismiss Israel’s experience of violence and terror are likely to contribute to Israel’s sense of isolation and anger.

"The more that Israelis feel abandoned by the international community, the harder it arguably is to bring a workable, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The situation is dire enough without making things worse, and the situation is bad.

"Israel’s military response to the October 7 attack has resulted in the killing of more than 29,000 Palestinians and the displacement of nearly 2 million more. It almost certainly violates international humanitarian law, as well as Israel’s own military code of conduct.

"There is no excuse for this extreme military response, but we need to understand Israel’s perspective if we are to break the cycle of violence. It’s important to consider that the scale of Israel’s response may be the result of anger, fear and trauma as opposed to reasoned strategic thinking. It’s likely a sense of isolation serves to exacerbate these sentiments." . . .

Ann Coulter; Police Officer Stuck in BLM Nightmare

 Ann Coulter (townhall.com)

"Moriarty is such a wacko that even the progressive, Soros-backed Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison had to take another case away from her -- the first time in 30 years a state AG had done so."

"It must be a shock to police officers busting up campus protests to be cheered, rather than jeered, as they have been since the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a decade ago -- a completely justified shooting, according to President Obama's Justice Department. The anti-Israel demonstrators seem kind of surprised, too. They thought they were going to get the BLM treatment.

"I don't know how many times we have to go over this, but you're not black, Palestinians. No offense! Nor are gays or illegals or Jews or womyn, etc.

"There are different rules for black people, some for good and sound reasons (the legacy of slavery) and some for moronic reasons (we can't possibly expect black people to obey police commands).

"So while you applaud the cops arresting pro-Hamas agitators, remember that a lot of brave law enforcement officers are still living the nightmare of BLM's cop hatred. This column is about one of them.

"Last week, the lunatic progressive attorney for Hennepin County, Minnesota, Mary Moriarty, announced that she will spend at least a million dollars in taxpayer money to have Steptoe, a white-shoe law firm in Washington, D.C., prosecute Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan for murder.

"Londregan's crime was to save his own life and that of another officer last summer while trying to arrest Ricky Cobb II, repeat felon and father of five by at least three different mothers. (Insert first communion photo here.)

"Cobb was pulled over at around 2 a.m. last July for driving without taillights. The troopers checked his record and found that Cobb was wanted for violating a felony order of protection in a neighboring county. The officers called it in and asked if the county wanted him arrested. Yes, they did." . . .

Defending the rapists and murderers of Gaza, our history must be destroyed

 Muslim migrants caught ‘red-handed’ burning down forests as an act of jihad - American Thinker

. . ."Yet I haven’t heard a peep from the progressive left on these willful acts of destruction; why? 

"Now to be fair, leftists themselves often resort to arson to make their point, and we see this all the time—they too light forests on fire, to “prove” that “climate change” is real. Perhaps the leftists saw this and thought it would fuel the hysteria and advance their agenda—but I don’t think so.

"To me, it obviously comes down to this: when you’re embracing conflicting interests (“Queers for Palestine”), which basically sums up the collective left because they’re suffering from a superiority complex and they’re not thinking for themselves, the terrorist interest always triumphs.

"They’re against the patriarchy…until a designated terrorist group launches an attack against civilians and raping all the way because, free Palestine or something.

"They’re friends of the gays…until practitioners of Sharia law toss them from rooftops, or crucify them in the public square.

"They love the environment…until Muslim arsonists burn down thousands of acres of forest, killing who knows how many endangered species in the process, because they’re virtuously “tolerant”and accepting.

"They’re “for the children” (Nancy Pelosi’s go-to guilt trip line)…until cross-dressing pedophiles embed themselves in elementary schools and kid’s museums because, “visibility” and “acceptance.”

"They champion the cause of the common man, being exploited by a powerful overlord…until that common man is an American citizen and that powerful overlord is a tyrannical and thieving federal government.

"They’re against the death penalty…unless the person slated for execution is a baby in the womb.

"They stand against the oil companies…by utterly destroying priceless works of art on display.

"Because, when it really comes down to it, they’re not beholden to virtue, morality, or progressivism, but terrorism, wickedness, and death—plain and simple."

Disturbing to read: 15 Witnesses, Three Confessions, a Pattern of Naked Dead Bodies. All the Evidence of Hamas Rape on October 7 - Haaretz.com

The courageous testimony of released hostage Amit Sousanna, the first woman to speak publicly about the sexual assault she underwent in captivity, rendered the sexual violence being committed against the captives, women and men, an undeniable fact.

"Davidian, who gave testimony both to the UN team and to the Association of Rape Crisis Centers, told Haaretz what he saw. "There were trees on which there was one body, and there were cases in which a number of bodies were tied to the same tree," he related. "There was a case of a couple who were in an embrace, naked, and tied to a tree. Both of them had been shot in the chest."

"In his testimony to the Association, Davidian said he had seen more than five bodies that had been mutilated "in intimate places… their organs were cut off, damaged. There was blood from the groin… There were also shots to breasts.". . .

 Douglas Murray: Hamas raped and murdered Jews with Glee!

Biden passes out his medals

 

Why call it quits after decades of marriage? - CNN.com  

For the Gores, they had successfully passed all these divorce-prone points, which made their separation so surprising for the public, marriage experts say. As one marriage expert put it: "It's tragically a different kind of a divorce."

"The Gores don't plan on commenting further on their relationship or whether the separation will evolve into a divorce."

Al Gore Thinks Trump Will Lose and Climate Activists Will Triumph - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Why the Masseuse's Story About Al Gore Rings True (slate.com)

Finally, the big picture dawns on her. She is a massage therapist. He is a “rich kid who is used to getting what he wants” and operates on the basic presumption of “money or power bailing him out of trouble.” She is at the opposite end of that equation. It’s perfectly possible that none of this will hold up in court. But it does ring true in life.

 Two More Massage Therapists Accuse Al Gore of Sexual Assault (businessinsider.com)  . . ."A source from the luxury hotel in Beverly Hills told The Enquirer: "The therapist claimed that when they were alone, Gore shrugged off a towel and stood naked in front of her.". . ." 

 

Biden's not merely old, he is incompetent

 Biden's Problem Isn't Age—It's Biden | Opinion; Newt Gingrich

The truth is, as a candidate, U.S. senator, vice president, and president, Biden has always had a loose relationship with reality—and a stunning willingness to just make things up.  

. . ."Those who argue that President Joe Biden is too old to run for reelection are wrong. He's not too old—he's too Joe Biden.

"His age isn't the problem. His competence is." . . .

"Paul McCartney is staying busy and traveling around the world at 81 as one of the wealthiest musicians in the world (estimated to be worth more than $1 billion). 

"Dame Judi Dench continues to make several movies a year at 88.

"Chuck Grassley, who will be 90 in less than two weeks, was reelected to his eighth term in the U.S. Senate. He was first elected in 1980. He is now the longest-serving Republican senator in history and is aggressive in digging out the facts about corruption in the Biden administration and continuing his work with whistleblowers. 

"Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses) took up painting at 78 and became a world-famous painter who created more than 1,500 paintings. She passed away at 101.

"The point of this long list of continuing achievers is that age is not the problem for them. Some people age well and remain major contributors to their art or profession. Others age badly and become less effective long before many of their contemporaries. " . . .

"The truth is, as a candidate, U.S. senator, vice president, and president, Biden has always had a loose relationship with reality—and a stunning willingness to just make things up. 

"His recent story about his house almost burning down is a lie he has told on at least eight occasions over the years. It simply is not true, and that simply does not matter to Biden.

"President Biden telling the parents of those who were killed during his administration's disastrous Afghanistan evacuation that his son Beau had died while serving in Iraq is another example of his unending—and, indeed, mystifying—willingness to make things up. (Beau died from cancer in Maryland.) 

"Biden's lack of accurate memory may have gotten a little worse—but there has always been a big gap between the truth and his recollections. 

"Importantly, the president's cognitive decline is clear and painful. To have the leader of the most powerful nation in the world wander around a stage because he does not know where he is supposed to go—or what he is supposed to do—is just plain frightening. His slipping mind compounds with his lifetime of yarn-spinning and it makes both seem worse. 

"Just remember the next time this comes up: it isn't about Biden's age, it's about Biden."

Israel: Now is the Time for Choosing

  CarolineGlick.com

"Israel’s choice is between defeating its enemies on the battlefield even at the cost of terrible condemnation and isolation or collapsing under pressure and losing. Israel is called to make this choice in the immediate term, and its fate stands or falls with its decision about Rafah."

"Early this week, rumors began to swirl that ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan is poised to act on these groundless complaints and issue international arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. . .

. . ."Israel’s war is not a war of choice. It isn’t a conflict that Israel can shrug its shoulders and walk away from, or opt for a limited goal of blocking incoming strikes. This is a war for national survival. Hamas made clear the genocide it aims to achieve on Oct. 7. Its appalling cruelty to the hostages it has held captive for more than six months demonstrates still further that there is no way to fight to a draw with this jihadist terror regime. There is no “deal” to be had with Hamas leaders. The same is true of Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon. And, of course, the same is true of Iran.

"Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and their terror partners have used all the resources at their disposal to expand their capacity to annihilate Israel. They have not done this to jockey for stronger negotiating positions. They are putting everything they have into building these capacities because they really want to destroy Israel and kill the Jews. The calls for Israel’s destruction are not mere slogans. They are solid commitments.

"The good news is that Israel has the military and economic power to defeat its enemies completely. The bad news is that in their efforts, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and their other partners are not fighting alone. While the United States and other Western nations are willing to speak out against Hamas and Iran from time to time, they completely oppose Israel’s effort to defeat its enemies. Israel is permitted to defend against incoming attacks. But it is prohibited from taking decisive offensive action.

"To block Israel from winning, the United States and its partners in Europe and the United Nations are waging an unprecedented, comprehensive and ever-escalating political war against Israel. Its clear goal is to criminalize Israel’s war effort and to effectively deny the Jewish state the right to self-defense." . . .

Joe Biden Is, at Best, a Fair-Weather Friend of Israel | Opinion (Newsweek)

. . ."The first lesson of the Shoah is that Israel will defend the Jewish people in the Land of Israel as an independent, democratic country; allies are essential and friends are welcome, but Jews will no longer sit at the mercy of governments that may be friendly one day but not the next. Israel has the right and obligation to make decisions about its safety and security.

"The second lesson is that American choices that empower Israel's enemies, and that constrict the flexibility and defensive capability of Israel, ignore the first lesson and engender a rift in the relationship.

"That is exactly what has happened under Biden's presidency." . . .

Biden’s troubled Gaza strategy: ‘the US looks feckless’ (Financial Times)  ..."But most importantly, Biden does not want to be seen as the president that allowed the worst massacre on the Jewish people since the Holocaust to pass without consequence, analysts say. Not only did Biden denounce the Hamas attack as “sheer evil”, but within days he was in Tel Aviv visiting Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet." . . .

"US officials do not believe that a cooler or even a more combative approach to Israel — such as the one that Barack Obama adopted during his years in the White House — would necessarily help trigger a change of heart by Israel and may, in fact, backfire. Biden administration officials say that while they have some sway with Israel, the notion that they dictate the terms of Israel’s campaign or can tell it when to stop are overblown." . . .