Obama rips Hamas Op-Ed
By Ami Eden on Mar 21, 2008 in Barack Obama, Featured, Presidential Race |
Barack Obama has issued a statement to JTA ripping the Hamas Op-Ed from the L.A. Times that was reprinted in his church newsletter. (And he wishes you a Happy Purim):
(JTA) — A pro-Hamas op-ed printed in his church’s bulletin is “outrageously wrong,” Barack Obama said.
In an issue dated July 22, 2007, in a section titled “Pastor’s Page,” the church reprinted an article by Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook in which he justifies Hamas’ withholding of recognition of Israel’s right to exist. The article originally appeared as an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times.
The church’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who retired this year, has already stirred controversy for the U.S. senator campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination with earlier statements likening Israel to colonialists and blaming attacks on the United States in part on its support for Israel.
“I have already condemned my former pastor’s views on Israel in the strongest possible terms, and I certainly wasn’t in church when that outrageously wrong Los Angeles Times piece was re-printed in the bulletin,” Obama said in a statement emailed to JTA late Thursday, and referring to critics who noted that Obama had been in church when Wright had made controversial statements. “Hamas is a terrorist organization, responsible for the deaths of many innocents, and dedicated to Israel’s destruction, as evidenced by their bombarding of Sderot in recent months. I support requiring Hamas to meet the international community’s conditions of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence, and abiding by past agreements before they are treated as a legitimate actor.”
Obama, who has consistently condemned Hamas and defended Israel’s military responses to rocket attacks, separately issued a statement timed for the Jewish holiday of Purim –- a holiday that has rarely if ever been commemorated by any other candidate or Congress member.
“The story of Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai saving the Jews of ancient Persia from destruction,” his statement said. “Even as the parties are held, the songs are sung, and the noisemakers are rattled, the history of a people that has had to fight for its survival, remains at the heart of the Purim story. In our day, the celebration is mingled with a determination to ensure that Israel remains safe and strong, that we fight anti-Semitism wherever it occurs, and that the American Jewish community continues to play such an active and vital role in the life of our nation.”
“…and that the American Jewish community continues to play such an active and vital role in the life of our nation.”
This statement in no way shape or form should be taken as any kind of a comiliment to the Jewish community. It only affirms what I suspected of him in light of recent events.
As a north American Jew, I am strongly offended that he thinks “Jews play a vital role in the life of our nation.” I’m a Jew, and I don’t think the role I play is any different from that of a Muslim , Christian, black or white or whatever person out there!!!!
Could it be that he is referring to those “Powerfull Jewish lobbes” that everyone’s (Farakhan, Wright, Bucanon) talking about.
I’d be worried…..
Happy Purim
James123 | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Of course he wasn’t in church to see that pamphlet either. And he wasn’t in the Illinois legislature when many important votes were taken - or he voted present. And he was absent from the Senate for most of the voting during his half-term - or he voted present.
What the h–l has he done that makes him qualified for President of the USA?
Now, if he ran fro president of the NAACP…
Perry Birman | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
suggest that if you have not looked at http://www.savagepolitics.com you should do so when you have some time to read it. Here is just a small part of one of their stories:
{JERUSALEM - Sen. Barack Obama’s Chicago church reprinted a manifesto by Hamas that defended terrorism as legitimate resistance, refused to recognize the right of Israel to exist and compared the terror group’s official charter - which calls for the murder of Jews - to America’s Declaration of Independence.
The Hamas piece was published on the “Pastor’s Page” of the Trinity United Church of Christ newsletter reserved for Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., whose anti-American, anti-Israel remarks landed Obama in hot water, prompting the presidential candidate to deliver a major race speech earlier this week.
The revelation follows a recent WND article quoting Israeli security officials who expressed “concern” about Robert Malley, an adviser to Obama who has advocated negotiations with Hamas and providing international assistance to the terrorist group.
In his July 22, 2007, church bulletin, Wright reprinted an article by Mousa Abu Marzook, identified in the newsletter as a “deputy of the political bureau of Hamas.” A photo image of the newsletter was captured and posted today by the business blog BizzyBlog. The Hamas piece was first published by the Los Angeles Times, garnering the newspaper much criticism.
According to senior Israeli security officials, Marzook, who resides in Syria alongside Hamas chieftain Khaled Meshaal, is considered the “brains” behind Hamas, designing much of the terror group’s policies and ideology. Israel possesses what it says is a large volume of specific evidence that Marzook has been directly involved in calling for or planning scores of Hamas terrorist offensives, including deadly suicide bombings. He was also accused of attempting to set up a Hamas network in the U.S.
I’m wondering just what we are getting ourselves into if we elect Obama. The first 100 days might just be our last 100 days.
Nancy Riley | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
Nancy, Marzook is on the FBI terrorist blacklist. This is whose work and opinion Rev. Wright was disseminating. He is an enemy of Jews and America and Obama and family were willing spectators and supporters for 20 years.
You wonder what you’re getting into? How naive can you possibly be??? You’re getting into a crushing defeat at the hands of one John McCain as both Democratic candidates are fatally flawed.
Perry Birman | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
Obama Will Stop Expansion of the War
We encourage all to vote for Barack Obama in this, the most important election America will ever have, possibly its last. A firm mathematical analysis points to the so-called war on terror ratcheting up to a world war fought with nuclear weapons. For that reason we support Barack Obama, the only real anti-war candidate. Man must lay down his weapons – or die. The technical reasoning behind our nuclear war fears is given on http://www.matrix-evolutions.com. Concerned intelligent people will make the effort to read it.
Dr. and Mrs. Peter V. Calabria and Family
Ruth Calabria | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
Dr. Calabria,
I hope you not the doctor I will ever need to save my life for your worldview most likely condemns me to death.
Kumbaya!
Perry Birman | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
Obama is definitely pro Israel. It appears to me as if he is strongly committed to our alliance with Israel but he may be more critical of Israeli decisions than previous presidents. This is a good thing! No we should not negotiate with Hamas, and yes we should do everything to prevent terrorist attacks. As a Jew I find it shameful that with our history of adversity and oppression we would oppress people ourselves. There has to be some way we can treat everyday, non-terrorist Palestinians more fairly. Hopefully, that’s what Obama is thinking. He’s definitely not about to abandon us.
Benjamin | May 13, 2008 | Reply