“'There is no question that we need a new approach to Gaza,' said one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the policy shift is still in the early stages. He was reflecting a broadly held view in the upper reaches of the administration."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/world/middleeast/03policy.html?hp
Joe Biden, as is his wont, took a different view of the matter:
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Biden pointed out that Israel had given pro-Palestinian activists the option of unloading their cargo at the Ashdod port, and offered to bring it to the Gaza Strip on their behalf.
"They've said, 'Here you go. You're in the Mediterranean. This ship -- if you divert slightly north you can unload it and we'll get the stuff into Gaza,'", he said. "So what's the big deal here? What's the big deal of insisting it go straight to Gaza? Well, it's legitimate for Israel to say, 'I don't know what's on that ship. These guys are dropping… 3,000 rockets on my people.'"
"Look, you can argue whether Israel should have dropped people onto that ship or not -- but the truth of the matter is, Israel has a right to know -- they're at war with Hamas -- has a right to know whether or not arms are being smuggled in."
During the interview, Biden also blamed Hamas for the crisis that has wracked the coastal territory and for the ongoing state of conflict with Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/biden-israel-right-to-stop-gaza-flotilla-from-breaking-blockade-1.293833
What a breath of fresh air after listening to the inane responses of European ministers, who couldn't care less what armaments are brought by Hamas from Iran into the Gaza Strip.
It is interesting! There is one alive person in this Obama machine.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, will Biden recant these statements and express his deep concerns for the Palestinians' cause - as he did during his visit to Israel?
My fantasy: that Obama will decide not to run for a second term and allow Biden to run in his stead.
ReplyDelete