This is one of the many reasons I am proud to be an American. Last night I was privileged to watch a video recording of the President’s address to the nation about the Hamas attack against Israel last Shabbos (Simchas Torah).
I do not reacall an American president ever expressing such full throated support as I did from this president. President Biden’s description of Hamas brutal massacre of Jews was unprecedented. Describing in some detail the horrendous things these savages did.
His sympathy for the bereaved in Israel was palpable. His condemnation of Hamas was the strongesrt I have ever heard. His assertion that Israel has every right - and duty even - to retaliate was clear and unequivocal.
His acknowledgment of the millennia long antisemitism and genocide of the Jewish people - and the need for a Jewish homeland was the first time I have heard any president ever say anything remotely close to that.
His warning to other nations hostile to Israel not to take advantage of the situation was stern - implying that there would be a heavy price to pray if they tried.
The actions he has taken to help Israel protect its people, to help free the hostages, and to help fight Hamas was spelled out in some detail - adding that Israel will get whatever it needs. He spoke on behalf of all Americans who mourn with Israel their loss.
This is all from the leader of the Democratic Party. Which of late has been increasingly critical of Israel. A party that had a tendency to use descriptions of Israel’s defensive action as ‘uneven’. Or implying that the IDF wasn’t being careful enough to avoid civilian Psletonian casualties.
But NOT this time. President Biden blamed those civilian casualties on Hamas who uses their own innocent people as human shields. Explaining as Israel does that they true minimize civilian casualties while Hamas uses them as shields and then blames Israel for their deaths.
I don’t think I have ever heard such unequivocal suppprt for the Jewish people from a sitting President. This address could have been made by the Israeli prime minister himself! That is how positive it was,
I totally reject any cynicism about this address. Such as calling it political and insincere. Those who try and characterize it that way are so blinded by political partisanship that they are incapable of perceiving genuine human emotion from their political opponents.
I am not a Democrat. As I often say, I lean politically conservative. No one appreciates the pro Israel policies of the previous president more than I do. But these two things are not mutually exclusive.
It behooves us all - whether Democrat or Republican- to show our appreciation to the president for his unprecedented unequivocal support - and the genuine sympathy he is showing to Israel and the Jewish people. We cannot thank him enough for that. He has shown himself to be a man of great compassion and a true friend of his Jewish people. I salute him.
President Biden’s speech can be viewed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cho6JtMTYXg
