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The dangerous game of stalling Israel’s defense and demanding conditions of war

U.S. President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 18, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

It was just days after the savage Hamas terror attacks, which took place on Oct. 7, already responsible for the deaths of more than 1,400 Israelis and foreign citizens, that U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to the airwaves to make sweeping and resounding shows of unequivocal support for Israel’s right to defend itself by whatever means they choose.

From there, each day brought about a slight chipping away at the strong resolve to allow us to do what we needed to do, in order to eradicate the murderous terror organization which is housed right at our doorstep. It began with the request for needed time to allow northern Gaza residents to have an “escape corridor”in order to avoid massive civilian casualties, sure to ensue from a ground invasion.  

But once Hamas made clear its refusal to allow Gazans to leave their homes, essentially adding them to the insurance policy of the 200 hostages they are already holding, as well as the fact that both Egypt and Jordan will not allow them entry into their countries, the request became nothing more than a stalling tactic.

This was followed by a request for trucks, allegedly filled with humanitarian aid, in the form of goods, to be permitted to enter Gaza. Not only would such a shipment further delay any incursion, but those trucks, whose contents would only be inspected by Hamas operatives, could actually contain weapons and other deadly equipment designed to assist the terrorists in their goal of winning this war.

However, given Hamas’ insistence that its people remain in the path of fire, does anyone really believe that humanitarian aid would be distributed to helpless Gazans who are only useful to the terror organization as disposable props and whose deaths would be used to incite world condemnation against the Jewish state? It’s sad to say, but the massive airdrop of leaflets from the IDF, warning Gazans to leave the area is, likely the most genuine concern that anyone has displayed for these people – a truly sad commentary on their own Arab neighbors who couldn’t care less what happens to them.  

Add to that the totally useless trip of the American president, whose purpose for the long and dangerous trek seems to be nothing more than to enable further delays, as well as demand unjustified restraint, all canceling out the initial stunning show of support which appeared to have no conditions or limitations attached. Of course, a ground incursion cannot be conducted during the time that Biden is in the country.

In a recent video clip published by Caroline Glick, journalist and columnist for Israel Hayom, Jerusalem Post, Israeli newspaper Maariv and Breitbart News, she attempts to point out the real reasons behind President Biden’s visit to the Middle East. In fact, her first claim is that “Israel is in danger of losing sovereign control over its military.”

Glick begins by stating that this visit was actually demanded by the U.S., as opposed to the alleged personal concerns believed to be those of the president, in his grand gesture visit to “stand by us in our darkest time.” Such were the words printed on a full-page ad in Wednesday’s Jerusalem Post by a large contingency of well-known rabbis and Christian clergy who thanked Biden for his support but also urged him to remain immovable in his resolve to support the Jewish state.

Glick goes so far as to say that Biden’s visit is tantamount to a “human shield” for Hamas, insomuch as it also prevents Israel from operating in a timely and effective manner. This only serves to buy the enemy more time.  

Of course, each day that passes by puts distance between the barbaric attacks of Israeli families, young people, children and babies who were brutally murdered, tortured, burnt alive, raped and carried off into captivity. Global memory has a short life span, and it didn’t take long before the tide of popular opinion began to shift in the other direction.

In that regard, Blinken, too, according to Glick, spent seven hours speaking with our war cabinet members, setting conditions upon American military goods and support, in the form of allowing “unknown supplies” to enter Gaza. She says that these American armaments, which would be so helpful, are needed to prosecute the war in the most effective way, but will not be forthcoming unless we comply with the administration’s demands, which clearly will result in putting Israeli soldiers at greater risk by giving Hamas the advantage of receiving unknown shipments.

Other conditions include the inability to use American weapons on launching sites if they are also located in civilian venues, such as schools or hospitals, typically utilized by Hamas to execute their attacks. In short, the Biden administration is effectively tying Israel’s hands to take out the enemy by making impossible demands that will almost guarantee our failure before we even start.

Glick makes the convincing argument that the U.S. is, in effect, helping the enemy to remain in our midst as they continue to provide taxpayer funding and other aid to Palestinians, which only end up in the hands of the brutal enemy, Hamas. This includes close relations with Qatar, a country that is nothing more than a safe haven for Hamas leaders. Likewise, Lebanon is providing hundreds of millions of American dollars for military assistance each year, but somehow the fact that Hezbollah, another avowed enemy of Israel, operates freely from Lebanon, is missed by the Biden/Blinken administration.  

Of course, the billions that were recently given to Iran are, yet, another nail in the coffin of the misplaced trust America has in the regime that, given the chance, would not hesitate to wipe out both Israel and the U.S.

With all of this counterproductive activity, which does nothing more than arm those who hate us, who is still willing to believe that we have been given a green light by the American administration to defend ourselves and that there is unconditional support and backing by them? 

Their talk is cheap when not backed up by their actions and, in this case, we are losing valuable time and assets simply to appease a so-called ally who does not even have our best interests at heart. As an American, it pains me to say this, because I know that so many Americans, especially Evangelical Christians, do support Israel’s right to, not only defend themselves but to eradicate a brutal and inhumane enemy like Hamas. As an Israeli, however, I know that America would never put up with the tragedies that have just befallen us, so why are we being asked to fight with one hand tied behind our back?

Real support is allowing us to rid the world of a cancer that will metastasize and take hold of every government and country on the face of the earth, if only given the chance. Shouldn’t we be cheered on, by all, as we are more than willing to take on the deadly but necessary operation ourselves?

A former Jerusalem elementary and middle-school principal and the granddaughter of European Jews who arrived in the US before the Holocaust. Making Aliyah in 1993, she is retired and now lives in the center of the country with her husband.

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