It was only a few weeks ago that we were treated to the spectacle of the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the likes of Hakeem Jefferies holding hands on the stage of the “Support for Israel Rally” in Washington, DC. The media quickly reported: ““We stand with you, and we will not rest until you get all the assistance you need,” Schumer says before leading the rally in chants of “Am Yisrael Chai.”
Looked good for the cameras; however, only a few short hours after that, Schumer returned to the Senate where he promptly led the Senate Democrats in defeating the bipartisan House bill that was passed to provide immediate assistance to Israel. Nothing says “Am Yisrael Chai” like defeating the bill for immediate assistance. That was on November 14, 2023 … now it is December 3, 2023 … eighteen days later and we can say that the United States Congress has not yet passed an aid package for Israel. It’s really a good thing that we have Israel’s back … I would hate to see this country’s action if that were not the case.
But that’s not all … the Biden Administration never fails to disappoint. Within days of that evil attack perpetrated by Hamas, our illustrious Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was landing his jet in Israel so he could express his deep commitment to Israel. You see Blinken wanted the world to know that he too has Jewish roots and feels deeply for the State of Israel. He reiterated Biden’s commitment to securing an aid package as quickly as possible. But the Blinken Show was not over.
Israel was treated to another Blinken visit on December 1st; but, this time, the message was very different. In the time between October 7th and December 1st, the Israeli Defense Forces began the clearly stated goal of grinding Hamas into the sands of Gaza ensuring that they never have the capability of rising again to lead the Palestinian people. Back in the United States, Joe Biden had already begun the process of undercutting his own commitment to Israel. His called for a pause, not a ceasefire mind you, but a pause (a ceasefire by any other name is still a ceasefire) as well as stated his clear support for a “Two State Solution”. While it might not be clear to Joe Biden, it most certainly is clear to the rest of us that both a ceasefire and a two-state solution were in effect on October 6th, and both were broken by Hamas on October 7th.
Despite what you might see in the left-wing media, there was no occupation of Gaza by any Israelis on the morning of October 7th. Hamas had full political and occupational control of Gaza. The date was: 2 September 2005 --- All Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the joint Israeli-Palestinian Erez Industrial Zone were dismantled, and 9,000 Israelis, most living in Gush Katif, were forcibly evicted. On 12 September 2005, the Israeli cabinet formally declared an end to Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip.
Biden is feeling the pressure from the far-left flank of his party. They want a permanent ceasefire thus preventing Israel from completely wiping out Hamas. Here is a little discussed fact … While no aid has yet passed Congress for Israel, on November 28th, a US Air Force C17 landed in Egypt loaded with 54 thousand pounds of aid for Gaza. CBS reported: A U.S. military plane carrying 54,000 pounds of food and medical supplies bound for civilians in Gaza landed in Egypt on Tuesday, the first of three such flights aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis in the enclave during a lull in fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, said an Air Force C-17 delivered the supplies to Egypt. They will then be transported on the ground to Gaza and distributed to civilians by the United Nations.
Now to add insult to injury, Tony Blinken met with Israel’s War Cabinet on December 1st and when they reiterated to him that it was their intent to continue their mission to wipe out Hamas, Blinken replied: ”You don’t have the credit for that.”
So, let’s recap … USAID aid is being trucked into Gaza, but no aid has yet to be provided to Israel. Israel agreed to a halt in combat operations long enough to recover some of the hostages … More than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released since they were taken in the cross-border Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Estimates for the total number of hostages seized in the attack that left at least 1,200 people dead in Israel have shifted over the course of the war.
Blinken tried to squeeze Israel; however, it appears that Israel sent him packing back to Washington. Combat operations have resumed and the disdain that the Biden Administration has for Israel is palpable. It is a replay of the Obama years. And why wouldn’t it be?! It seems that Biden has continued to surround himself with Obama acolytes who also add a clear antisemitic tone of their own to this Administration.
For those who might feel the slightest sympathy for the Palestinian people, remember they elected Hamas as their political leadership --- and for Hamas, the reality of life in Gaza is in accordance with the old saying: “Never bring a knife to a gunfight.”