Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
The November 14th #MarchforIsrael rally, in which 300,000 Jews and friends from throughout the country came together to support Israel and her counterterror operations against Hamas, was an extraordinary and inspiring event. Unfortunately, during and immediately after the rally, the Biden administration and Senate Democrats betrayed their promises of “rock solid and unwavering” support for Israel by: (1) hugely enriching Iran; (2) blocking stand-alone aid to Israel; (3) enabling the passage of a very problematic UN Security Council resolution; (4) promoting replacing the Hamas terror regime with the Palestinian Authority terror regime and a Palestinian terror state; (5) restricting Israel’s rights to assure that Gaza is no longer a terror base; (6) supporting Hamas-pervaded UNRWA; and (7) threatening visa bans against Israelis.
Enriching Iran: On Tuesday November 14 (the same day as the 300,000-person strong #MarchforIsrael), President Biden and Secretary Blinken waived sanctions to give the Iranian regime access to $10 billion! Enriching Iran with $10 billion will help Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other Iranian-backed terror groups continue attacking Israelis and Americans.
Blocking Aid to Israel: Also on Tuesday November 14th, all 51 Democratic Senators twice blocked a vote on the stand-alone Israel aid bill that the House of Representatives had passed on November 2nd. The Senate Democrats’ actions unconscionably delayed and politicized aid to Israel.
Enabling UNSC Resolution: On Wednesday evening November 15th (just one day after the #MarchforIsrael), the Biden administration enabled the passage of hostile-to-Israel UN Security Council Resolution 2712 (2023), by abstaining and refusing to exercise the U.S. veto. The U.S. abstention has the same effect as voting for this unseemly resolution, which calls for days-long “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip.” This is virtually the same as calling for ceasefires that enable Hamas to regroup, rearm and reattack Israelis. UNSC Res. 2712 also calls for “continuous unhindered” access for so-called United Nations humanitarian agencies (i.e., UNRWA – which assists and is pervaded by Hamas operatives); and “unhindered” provision of dual use items including electricity and fuel – that Hamas simply takes to continue their rocket and other attacks on Israel.
Outrageously, UNSC Res. 2712 failed to mention or condemn Hamas’ atrocities. As Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Brett Jonathan Miller reminded the UNSC of its unconscionable omission, saying “On 7 October, Hamas terrorists launched a barbaric invasion into Israel, murdering, raping, and brutalizing innocent civilians. Since then, the Council has convened on the matter almost 10 times and still has not succeeded in condemning Hamas’ 7 October massacre. Today’s resolution focuses solely on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It makes no mention of what led up to this moment. Hamas has made it clear that given the chance, it will commit its atrocities again. They have shown the world that the genocidal rhetoric is not hyperbole, but an oath to annihilate Israel by any means.”
Interestingly, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that she was “horrified” that Council “still cannot bring themselves to condemn the barbaric terrorist attack that Hamas carried out against Israel on 7 October” and that the resolution did not reaffirm the rights of all Member States to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks. If the U.S. Ambassador was so (rightly) horrified, then why did she enable this resolution to pass? Only the fact that the resolution passed will be remembered; not the U.S. ambassador’s remarks, which do not counteract for her vote.
Israel’s deputy representative also explained that Israel’s actions are: “not about retaliation, or revenge for Hamas’ violence, it is Israel upholding the right to self-defence, ensuring that such horrors are never repeated. Hamas is a jihadist organization hell-bent on Israel’s destruction through the targeting of Israeli civilians, and the use of Gazan civilians as human shields.”
Israel’s deputy representative also explained that Israel has already supplied extensive humanitarian aid, that Hamas blocks and takes for its terror purposes, saying:
“Israel has already implemented humanitarian pauses during which Gazan civilians can temporarily evacuate the active war zone. Hamas, on the other hand, murders Gazans as they try to evacuate. Israel has approved the entry of nearly 1,400 trucks with thousands of tons worth of aid. Meanwhile, Hamas is holding food, fuel, and medical supplies for its terror machine. Yesterday, Israel supplied neonatal incubators and medical supplies to Al-Shifa Hospital. Just two days ago, Israel handed over 300 litres of fuel to Al-Shifa Hospital. Hamas prevented the hospital staff from accepting it. Hamas’ goal is to intensify and deteriorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza to broadcast Palestinian hardship to the world, and by doing so, exploit this very body to tie Israel’s hands. Bringing the hostages home is Israel’s top priority. Israel will continue to do whatever it takes to accomplish this goal. Should Hamas choose to lay down their arms, turn themselves in, and hand over the hostages unscathed, this war would end immediately.”
The only ostensibly positive aspect of UNSC Res. 2712 was its call for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children, as well as ensuring immediate humanitarian access.” But this will have no impact. As Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Brett Jonathan Miller stated, the resolution was “detached from the reality on the ground” and “the resolution will sadly fall on deaf ears when it comes to Hamas.”
Similarly, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, correctly said, “The Council’s resolution is disconnected from reality and is meaningless. Regardless of what the Council decides, Israel will continue acting according to international law while the Hamas terrorists will not even read the resolution at all, let alone abide by it. It is unfortunate that the Council continues to ignore, not condemn, or even mention the massacre that Hamas carried out on October 7, which led to the war in Gaza. It is truly shameful!”
Replacing One Terror Regime with Another: The next day (November 16), at a press conference, Biden promoted a so-called “two-state solution” – meaning creating what will surely be a Palestinian terror state on land that rightfully belongs to Israel. Biden stated: “I made it clear to the Israelis that — and to Bibi and to his War Cabinet that I think the only ultimate answer here is a two-state solution that’s real . . . I can tell you I don’t think it ultimately ends until there’s a two-state solution.”
And two days later, in a November 18 Washington Post op-ed/White House press release, President Biden again promoted a Palestinian state, run by the Palestinian Authority – a terrorist entity that sides with Hamas; celebrated October 7th; has the blood of thousands of Jews on its hands; and continues to pay Arab terrorists huge rewards to murder Jews! Biden wrote: “The Palestinian people deserve a state of their own . . . A two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people. A two-state solution . . . is where the road to peace must lead. . . . Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution.”
Disturbingly, Biden also adopted former President Biden’s “cycle of violence” language while promoting a Palestinian terror state. “Cycle of violence” fails to differentiate between terror and self-defense.
Restricting Israel’s Rights to Assure that Gaza is No Longer a Terror Base: When Israel evacuated Gaza in 2005, the proponents of this disastrous surrender assured the public that Israel could return if “it didn’t work out.” Israel’s evacuation of Gaza turned into a disaster. To avoid more October 7ths, at a minimum, Israel may now need to clear and maintain demilitarized zones in Gaza, and maintain overall security control. But during his November 16 press conference, Biden stated: “I made it clear to the Israelis I think it’s a big mistake to — for them to think they’re going to occupy Gaza and maintain Gaza.” And in his Washington Post op-ed , Biden stated: “There must be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in territory.” That’s a recipe for more terror from Gaza, and restricting Israel’s right and obligation to defend her citizens.
Supporting Hamas-Pervaded UNRWA: On November 17, U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer assured the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner that the U.S. (the Biden administration) “remains committed to supporting” UNRWA’s work. UNRWA is pervaded with Hamas operatives. UNRWA has a long history of hiding rockets and other weaponry for Hamas, and teaching Gazan school children to aspire to become “martyrs” by murdering Jews. President Trump rightly cut off U.S. funding to UNRWA. Biden restored and sent hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. aid to UNRWA.
Threatening Visa Bans Against Israelis: Sickeningly, Biden said nothing about the persistent terror attacks committed by Palestinian Arabs in Judea Samaria against Jews, or against the Palestinian Authority’s incitement and pay-to-slay payments. Instead, in his Washington Post op-ed, Biden railed against so-called (Jewish) “extremists” and threatened visa bars against them. It would make far more sense to ban the real terrorists in the Palestinian Authority and the PA officials who incite and pay them.