Civic Register
| 5.12.21
Biden Admin & Bipartisan Lawmakers Condemn Rocket Attacks on Israel, Urge De-Escalation of Violence
Do you agree with the U.S. affirming Israel’s right to self-defense and urging de-escalation?
What’s the story?
- Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have weighed in on the violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that escalated in recent days, with a broad swath of bipartisan lawmakers urging de-escalation and affirming Israel’s right to self-defense and some prominent progressive Democrats criticizing Israel.
- Here’s a look at what has been happening in the region and what leading politicians have said about the growing crisis.
What’s happening in Israel & the Palestinian territories?
- The region is in the midst of the deadliest period of violence since 2014 when Palestinian terror groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched rockets into Israel after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, which prompted Israeli airstrikes and a temporary ground invasion aimed at reducing the terror groups’ capacity to attack Israel.
- The latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict kicked off last week after violent clashes broke out over access to the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism and is known to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for whom it’s the third holiest site in Islam; and following an Israeli court ruling that several Palestinian tenants in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah can be evicted if they continue to not pay rent to their landlord (the ruling is currently under appeal so the eviction hasn’t occurred).
- Amid rioting in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and in Arab-majority communities within Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad began a barrage of rocket and mortar fire aimed at Israeli communities on May 10th, which has continued in the days since, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by the Israelis.
- The Israeli “Iron Dome” missile defense system, which is developed and funded through a collaboration with the U.S., has intercepted many of the rockets. However, the hundreds of rockets launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad has resulted in some breaching that protective umbrella and striking their targets in Israeli communities, while others have fallen short of their targets in Israel and instead landed in Palestinian territory.
- Israel’s counterstrikes are complicated by the fact that the terror groups often position their rocket launchers and weapons caches in or near civilian residential areas, schools, hospitals, and mosques. The U.S. House unanimously condemned Hamas for the use of human shields in early 2018. To mitigate civilian casualties from its strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets, the Israel Defense Force has adopted a policy of calling residents of buildings near targets to warn them to leave the area and using non-lethal munitions as a warning shot before deploying lethal weapons.
- Between the barrage of rockets launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the retaliatory strikes by the IDF, there have been numerous casualties among civilians and combatants on both sides of the conflict.
What they’re saying
- In brief remarks at a press event on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that “my expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for de-escalation while affirming Israel’s right to defense in remarks at a press conference:
“The United States remains committed to a two-state solution. This violence takes us further away from that goal. We fully support Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself. We’ve condemned, and I condemn again, the rocket attacks in the strongest possible terms. We believe Palestinians equally deserve to live with safety and security, and we’ll continue to engage with Israelis, Palestinians, and other regional partners to urge de-escalation and bring calm.”
- In response to a reporter’s question during the press conference, Blinken added:
“There is a very clear and absolute distinction between a terrorist organization, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets ― in fact, targeting civilians ― and Israel’s response defending itself that is targeting the terrorists who are raining down rockets on Israel. But whenever we see civilian casualties, and particularly when we see children caught in the crossfire losing their lives, that has a powerful impact. And I think Israel has an extra burden in trying to do everything it possibly can to avoid civilian casualties, even as it is rightfully responding in defense of its people.”
- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the following in remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday:
“The state of Israel has every right of self-defense. Its national security leaders have continued to display restraint, and invest so much in precision and avoiding civilian casualties. Israel must know that their friends and allies here in the United States stand with them as they seek to restore deterrence. That we support their right to peace and security. And that we will not relax our efforts to hold terrorists and terrorists’ supporters to account.”
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released the following statement on Tuesday:
“I condemn the escalating and indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas against Israel. Israel has the right to defend herself against this assault, which is designed to sow terror and undermine prospects for peace. Every civilian death is a tragedy that we mourn. Hamas’s accelerating violence only risks killing more civilians, including innocent Palestinians. The recent inflammatory provocations including by extremist forces in Jerusalem have exacerbated this situation, and restraint must be shown by all to de-escalate the crisis.”
- Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Emeritus Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WV) tweeted:
“We cannot just condemn rockets fired by Hamas and ignore Israel’s state-sanctioned violence against Palestinians ― including unlawful evictions, violent attacks on protestors & the murder of Palestinian children. U.S. aid should not be funding this violence.”
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) retweeted Pocan’s tweet, and also released a statement of her own which read:
“We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian residents of The Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. The Israeli military is forcing families from their homes during the Holy Month of Ramadan and inflicting violence. It is inhumane and the U.S. must show more leadership in safeguarding Palestinian rights.”
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: IDF via Flickr: Gaza Rocket, Rocket Strike, Iron Dome / Creative Commons)
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no one wants to see lopsided conflicts especially when the perpetrator deliberately places its people in jeopardy; hamas needs to be censored for its irresponsible leadership. many other areas of the world are in conflict and need attention as well
In light of the constant bombardment of Palestine by the Israeli military, I urge you to join the call of Sen. Ossoff for an immediate ceasefire in the middle east. The killing of unarmed civilians, women, and children has to stop immediately and I will not allow my tax dollars to support these war crimes.
Anyone that is against Israel is a ignorant idiot that should move to the Middle East. Hamas is a terrorist group that is based in the Gaza Strip and has been firing rockets into Israel for years. If Canada would start firing rockets into Washington DC or New York I’m guessing we would be ok with that and not defend ourselves. People need to grow the hell up do their own research and quit listening to this lying administration and overly bias media.
Congress needs to stop selling arms to the apartheid extremist right wing government of Israel. They showing the world their bigotry. The world needs condemn the illegal stealing of Palestinian lands and building of settlements on land that doesn’t belong to Israel. People are dying with American weapons. It’s time for sanctions. Rockets are a response to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. The US needs to show leadership. Netanyahu is a criminal that we are protecting.
This ethnic cleansing must stop. Any blood shed is on our hands as we continually turn a blind eye to the untold suffering of Palestinians. We view Israel as an ally, but what kind of ally does what they do? Why give their government billionaires of dollars each yea? Money spent on buying more weapons to kill people trying to live their lives? We are complicit, and it is wrong. We must act, and not make a statement. We have the ability to lead on this issue. We have the ability to gather an international coalition that end the bloodshed. Peace is attainable if you want it. The globe wants it, the America people want it, and it’s way past time since something positive was done about it. Hold Israel accountable
Do US is a major contributor to Israel’s military. This contribution should be for Israel’s defense, not for its occupation of Palestine. Our contributions should be contingent on this.
This is a very complicated situation in the Middle East, we must be very, very careful in our response! Both sides are not with out sin in this ongoing tragedy!
The people in Palestine are denied basis needs, if they put up solar panels for electricity they are removed, can’t get building permits, electricity, sewer and water hookup in their home are disconnected. Their property is stoled from them. The courts rule against them. They are prisoners and apartheid in their own country. This all done by Israel and Israel Military that say they have the right to exist? How about the Palestine’s? Israel blew up an international news organization building that is used by all networks, That journalist work out of this building from around the world. Most corrupt countries get rid of news organizations because they do not want the truth out! Granted Hamas is a problem, but so is Israel, Palestine is caught in the middle of this mess. Just like Black Lives Matter, so does Palestine’s lives matter and have a right to be treated fairly!
While it was Israel that started the fight with the court case, I condemn Hamas for killing civilians with its indiscriminate rocket attacks. I also condemn Israel for killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and destroying international press buildings. The longer this conflict goes on, the less patience the world will have with Israel, and the more isolated it will become. If Hamas and Naziyahoo can be taken out of the equation and Israel returns settlement land to Palestine, peace might finally be possible.
While it was Israel that started the fight with the court case, I condemn Hamas for killing civilians with its indiscriminate rocket attacks. I also condemn Israel for killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and destroying international press buildings. The longer this goes on, the less patience the world will have with Israel, and the more isolated it will become. If Hamas and Naziyahoo can be taken out of the equation and Israel returns settlement land to Palestine, peace might finally be possible.
Stop supporting Israeli genocide and apartheid. Stop sending my tax dollars to support Israel.
israHELL stole that land from the Palestianians, and has no right to exist. The evil israel has been ethnic cleansing since they stole the land. when they first came in, israeli soldiers were throwing Palestianians out of their homes so that jews from around the world who have never seen a grain of sand could literally steal that home. The US has just as much blood on its hands for supporting this, for providing military tanks and weaponry to help israel to continue the Holocaust against the native people. To this day israel treats the Palestianians like dirt. israeli soldiers alleging looking for terrorists will break into homes, defecate on the furniture and other suck disgusting acts. But that's what people without class do. https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2019/03/15/why-israel-has-no-right-to-exist/
The trump and the junior trump, Jarryd did manage to get a long-sought two state agreement for peace in the Middle East. However, the two states involved were Israel and Saudi Arabia, and not Israel and Palestine. This agreement essentially removes a large portion of Arab support for the Palestinians. It gives Israel a greater ability to subjugate Palestine and gives the Saudis a greater ability to decimate Yemen Shiites. And, it gives America and Israel a stronger position in dealing with Iranian nuclear weapon ambitions. While it settles some issues with portions of the Arab world and Israel, it leaves Palestine at the mercy of Israel with little direct support from anyone but Iran. Iran’s gift of weapons and sponsored terrorism does not help at all. Certainly, Israel has every right to defend itself from the radical Shiite terrorists sponsored by Iran. … … The issues are Iran’s interference and the lack of good faith negotiations between Palestine and Israel - and can never be settled so long as each side considers the other to be less worthy human beings ether by their lack of economic clout or by their ability to use their economic clout to dehumanize their opponents. I do not think that any true solution can be reached without forced dialog by delegations from both sides of high enough ‘rank’ to speak for their governments to work out equitable solutions based on the human rights of people in both countries; where both sides are treated equally with each giving a little and getting a little on returning to enact a UN brokered treaty to deliver on the promises made.
Brian, 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻😊❤️ Always good ones, jimK and Leslie! ❤️😊❤️
OMG W A F PLAY ON WORDS if there was any!! ISRAEL FOR DECADES ....BOMBS PALESTINE/STEALS THEIR CHILDREN AKA allows only 4 HOURS OF WATER N ELECTRIC A DAY!! Sprays Palestine HOMES w THEIR RAW SEWAGE AKA SHIT w a huge spray truck!! USA GIVES ISRAEL JUST A MIN OF $3.3 BILL A YEAR of Our Tax $$$ here now u know!! Did U know that ISRAEL OWNS USA??!! Has for Past 70 dame Years!!! This is a Huge Heads up here that USA PRES JOE BIDEN IS PRO ISRAEL TO THE MAX N ANTI AMERICAN to ALL US American Citizens that are AKA ANTI-ZIONISTS as well.... SHAME PAGE FOR USA PRES JOEY BIDEN=BONDING W ISRAEL = OMG USA IS FOR SURLY DOOMED as we have been for many a year..... I Do pray for world peace but Israel will always say NO & continue on w Palestine n keep Stealing Palestine Land as well aka LAND SETTLERS .... ISRAEL = SATAN'S CHILDREN.....1000%.......GOD KNOWS ALL ...IN THE END ... HE WILL HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE THEY ALL THEIR LYING/GREEDY/STEALING ....TO GO.... AKA HELL AWAITS THEM ALL :D Ha hence their Jew Star of David...6 points like Devil 666 for which I am very Pleased indeed :D ....FREE PALESTINE FROM ...IS-REAL-HELL ....PLEASE.... IN JESUS NAME AMEN.
Dear representatives, we cannot continue to ignore Palestinian genocide just because it’s complicated! Time to step in and call for unity. Stop violence on both sides! Imagine Peace! Yours truly, Alice Diehl
Israel must stop attacking the Palestinian people. This is more reason that we must support regime change in Israel. Netanyahu is a hawk bent on destroying the Palestinian people at all costs, and there will never be peace as long as he's in power. We must stand for peace, democracy, and equality for all who live in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Yes agree.
Netanyahu’s attempt to save his arse from corruption charges and inability to form a govt! No coincidence. The US must stop supporting apartheid and clear out all settlements and occupied territories so there can be a proper 2 state solution based on original borders.
American and NATO forces need to protect Israel and wipe the mosques off the Temple Mount.