Two sets of people who, like the Biden administration, agree that Israel has a right to defend itself after Hamas’s 10/7 massacre, but only so long as they actually actually don’t.
[IsraelTimes] Nearly 70 former US officials, diplomats and military officers are urging President Joe The Big GuyBiden
...46th president of the U.S. We get to suffer the consequences...
to warn Israel of serious consequences if it denies civil rights and basic necessities to Paleostinians and expands settlement activity in the West Bank.
Someone should get their names.
"The United States must be willing to take concrete action to oppose" such practices, the group says in an open letter to Biden, "including restrictions on the provision of (US) assistance (to Israel) consistent with US law and policy."Among the signatories are more than a dozen former ambassadors, as well as other retired State Department officials and former Pentagon, intelligence and White House officials, including Anthony Lake, a national security adviser to former President Bill Clinton
...former Democratic president of the U.S. Bill was the second U.S. president to be impeached, the first to deny that oral sex was sex, the first to have difficulty with the definition of the word
is...
In its letter, the group says that an Israeli military operation against Hamas
...a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",...was "necessary and justified."
But Israel’s operations "have been marked by repeated violations" of international law banning indiscriminate killing and the use of weapons that do not permit discrimination between combatants and civilians, the group says.
"Tens of thousands of Gazook civilians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and kiddies," the group says. "Civilian killings of this nature and magnitude cannot be justified."
Israel denies that its operations breach international law.
The group says that it strongly backs Biden’s call for an immediate truce of at least six weeks, the establishment of a reliable humanitarian aid
delivery system, and the release of hostages.The signatories also call on the Israeli military to implement rules of engagement consistent with international law.
Prominent Jews among progressive donors warning Biden against ‘unconditional’ support for Israel
[IsraelTimes] A number of prominent Jewish donors are included in a letter from more than 100 Democratic funders calling on US President Joe Biden to pull back his “unconditional” support for Israel’s war effort, and warning that it may harm his reelection prospects.
“Because of the disillusionment of a critical portion of the Democratic coalition, the Gaza war is increasing the chances of a Trump victory,” says the letter, which was sent Monday and first reported by The New York Times.
The letter comes amid growing pressure on Biden over Gaza from a swell of progressive voters, who have voted “uncommitted” in significant numbers in several primaries. The protest votes raise the prospect that progressive voters may stay home or decline to vote for the president in November, potentially facilitating a victory for former president Donald Trump.
“As donors and activists, we have committed much time and treasure in helping increase the turnout of likely Biden voters, particularly among young voters and voters of color.” the letter says. “Many of these voters are now questioning whether the Democratic Party shares their values.”
Among the signers are George and Liana Krupp, the father and daughter who steer the Krupp Family Foundation, which funds progressive Jewish organizations as well as the Council of American Jewish Museums. George Krupp, who has given $600,000 to Democrats this cycle, according to the Times, told the Times he remains committed to electing Biden to office.
Other prominent Jewish names include Barbara Dobkin, a philanthropist who has given to Jewish and Israeli feminist causes; Carol Winograd, who has funded progressive Jewish groups including J Street and Bend the Arc; Tamara Abrams, a Bay area climate activist who has served on the board of the East Bay Jewish Community Center; Margery Goldman, a philanthropist who has funded Israeli-Palestinian peace groups; and Marsha Rosenbaum, who has been at the forefront of advocating for drug reforms.
The letter says Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas after the terror group’s October 7 attack on Israel, which it said included war crimes.
“We cannot imagine the pain that the hostages and their families endure every day,” the letter says. “We also acknowledge that Israel has the right, as does every country, to defend its citizens, and we sympathize with the stated joint goals of eliminating Hamas and freeing the hostages.
But the letter goes on to charge Israel with “indiscriminate” bombing and “systematically” destroying “nearly all civil structures in Gaza.” It calls for conditions on US defense assistance to Israel and adds, “Regrettably President Biden has provided what appears to be unconditional support for the Israeli operation.” It says Biden’s pressure on Israel to minimize civilian casualties has been ineffective.
“We are asking the Biden administration immediately to change course,” it says. “Conditions need to be placed and monitored on any further military, financial or diplomatic aid. All indiscriminate bombing and demolition must stop.”