New York City – Mayor Bloomberg: Israel Has An Obligation To Defend Itself

    39

    Feb 2007 Mayor Bloomberg, made a visit in Sderot, Israel, holds a prayer book he was given in memory of a girl killed by a rocket.New York City – “I just wanted to say that I feel very strongly that Israel really does have a right, in fact an obligation, to defend itself against terrorist attacks. New Yorkers certainly know what it’s like to be targeted by terrorists and we also know the importance of fighting back, and I really do want to strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Israel and Hamas’s decision to break last summer’s ceasefire. I think we all had great hopes last summer that people could live together in peace and that, unfortunately, at the moment is not the case.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    “The last time I was in Israel I did see the effect of those attacks on the Israeli people. I visited Sderot where the mayor showed me what daily life is under a constant barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza, and, I saw and I heard during that visit, and it’s come back to me time and time again over the last few weeks just as the holiday season shared this year by Jews and Muslims and Christians was shattered when Hamas broke the ceasefire and launched rocket attacks against – and mortar attacks – against Israel. I think both the Bush Administration and the Obama team have been clear that Hamas must end its terrorist attacks, and I stand firmly behind Israel and all we can do is pray for a more peaceful 2009.

    “Everybody should have a right to live their lives without worrying about their safety, whether it’s safety on the streets from criminals or attacks by terrorists coming in from the air or suicide bombers or anything else. We just have to find a way in 2009 to stop killing each other, which, unfortunately, terrorists seem determined to continue to do.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    39 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    so now we know that bloomberg suports israel, pelosi supports israel, obama supports israel. but what about the president? is bush still on vacation? what does he have to say???

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Mayor Mike, your a mentsch

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    you go Mike!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    who cares what bloomberg says? some billionare who is the mayor of nyc is an expert n foreign policy? lets hear what the national leaders have to say!

    mordy
    mordy
    15 years ago

    I think Mayor Bloomberg’s word “obligation “means a lot. We are not talking here about just a luxury or another precautionary measure but rather Pekuach Nefesh. Just like on Shabbos on must be Mechalel Shabbos for an issue to save Jewish lives this case is no different. In Shulchan Oruch Siman 329 it writes “ Even if your enemies come towards you with straw or flax you must come before them with ammunition so that they should not feel it is easy to take you over “ . If someone value human life of Jews or Arabs they certainly would want Israel to clear up the Arab terrorist wherever they may be.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I would ask from the world a very simple Question? Do you have an other option, is their an other way to of self defense???!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    To #3….When a billionaire speaks people listen…Of course he’s doing this for the Jewish vote for mayor…and while I laud his public sentiment he will not be getting my vote

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    A new rule, if someone are ready to criticize Israel, give them an other solution how to protect them self.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    What’s the surprise? Do they have an other choice?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I have no idea what the world is thinking, should they wait the UN should Take action?!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    wheres your pictures of obama when he too was in sderot just a few months ago??

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    #25
    Do you live/work/drive in NYC??
    I got 3 violations in the last 5 months for not wearing seatbelts, and I was wearing it every single time!
    But in court its your word against the cop, HE WINS!
    And NO, I don’t have tinted windows, and I’m a Mentch!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    White House demands Hamas stop firing on Israel

    By DEB RIECHMANN – 11 hours ago

    CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — The Bush administration is arguing anew for an end to the latest flare up between Israel and the Hamas organization.

    White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe released a statement saying that “in order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire.”

    Johndroe issued the statement Monday morning from Crawford, Texas, where President Bush is seeing in the new year.

    The White House spokesman said a lasting peace “is the objective to which all parties need to be working. That is what the United States is working towards.”

    THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

    CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team is choosing its words carefully in dealing with Israel’s assault on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

    The deaths of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel’s deadly air assault on the militant Islamic group will further complicate Obama’s challenge to achieve a Middle East peace — something that eluded both the Bush and Clinton administrations.

    David Axelrod, senior adviser to Obama, said the president-elect would honor the “important bond” between the United States and Israel.

    “He wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and deserve,” Axelrod said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “Obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks. As Hamas began its shelling, Israel responded. But it’s something that he’s committed to.”

    Pressed about how much support Obama will offer Israel, Axelrod said: “He’s going to work closely with the Israelis. They’re a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the region. … But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace, and work closely with the Israelis and the Palestinians on that — toward that objective.”

    The Bush administration has blamed the renewed violence on the militant Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, saying it broke a cease-fire by firing rockets and mortars deep into Israeli territory. The Arab world, however, has reacted with rage to the aggressive Israeli counterattacks.

    It’s unclear whether Obama will be as supportive of Israel as President George W. Bush has been.

    Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, speculated that Israeli leaders synchronized their retaliatory attacks to political calendars in both Israel and the U.S. More moderate politicians running in the Feb. 10 national election needed to appear strong against Hamas, and it was perhaps better to strike before Bush left office on Jan. 20 because they weren’t as sure about what Obama’s reaction would be.

    “I think Obama will be supportive of Israel, but will bring a little more skepticism to it,” Alterman said. “I think Obama will start from premise that Israel is an ally, but that we have to look at this fresh.”

    Bush, who is staying at his Texas ranch, spoke on the phone with national security adviser Stephen Hadley to receive an update on the situation and was being kept abreast of developments throughout the day, said Gordon Johndroe, a presidential spokesman. He said Bush would receive an intelligence briefing via a secured video hookup at the ranch early Monday morning and would be briefed then on any overnight developments.

    According to an aide on Obama’s transition team, the president-elect, who is in Hawaii, continues to closely monitor global events, including the situation in Gaza. He had an intelligence briefing Sunday and plans to talk with his incoming national security adviser, Gen. James Jones, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, his nominee for secretary of state.

    The aide said Obama appreciates the information the Bush administration is sharing with him. The aide requested anonymity because the Obama team is refraining from comment, saying the U.S. has only one president at a time.

    Associated Press writers Ibrahim Barzak and Amy Teibel in Gaza City and Philip Elliott in Honolulu contributed to this report.

    M.E.
    M.E.
    15 years ago

    Lets not forget that Mr. Bush got us into this mess to begin with,

    In a press conference Secretary of State Rice gave at Ben-Gurion airport, she said, “Our hope is that whatever happens that there will be no delay in the disengagement plan and the withdrawal from Gaza because the United States has made very clear that we believe very strongly that this is a very positive step, and that any discussion that the United States has had, assurances that we have given and talked about are in the context of that withdrawal.”

    Frum Dem
    Frum Dem
    15 years ago

    HAHAHAHAHA!

    Imagine if when Obama is president and the same exact scenario occurs. He would get blasted for keeping quiet, not a generous praise of “he is letting israel do what needs to be done!” ahahaha
    you are all a bunch of transparent partisan hacks!