With violence increasing in the Middle East, members of the Florida congressional delegation are standing with Israel in the face of attacks from Palestinians.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination and sits on the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, showcased his support for Israel on Friday and joined a shabbat for that nation on Saturday.
“As Jewish communities across our nation prepare to stand in solidarity with Israel during a special solidarity shabbat this Saturday, I join in praying for an end to the recent attacks that have brought terror to the streets of Israel, and I pray that God protect our friends there and grant them the peace they seek,” Rubio said. “While Palestinians respond with more violence and a ‘Day of Rage,’ Israelis and the Jewish community here in the U.S. are joining together to pray for peace and an end to the violence as they mourn the victims of these horrific terrorist attacks. This is once again a reminder of why we must stand with our ally Israel and demand that President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority take all necessary measures to halt incitement and stop the violence.”
With the Washington Times reporting that the Obama administration believes Israel is using excessive force against the latest wave of Palestinian violence, even comparing it to terrorism, from his perch on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., ripped into the White House on Friday.
“It is amazing to me, the hypocrisy of the Obama administration calling Israel’s action of protecting its citizen an act of terrorism,” Yoho said. “To call the Israeli government’s actions to defend and provide security to their citizens' acts of terrorism is ludicrous. President Obama’s twisted foreign policy has severely damaged America’s credibility. The United States would be well-served if he held his criticism of one our closest allies and deal with his own foreign policy shortcomings -- namely his disastrous Iran deal. Jesus says in the Bible, to not concern yourself with the splinter in your neighbor’s eye when you have a timber in your own.
“President Obama’s convoluted foreign policy needs to be curtailed,” Yoho continued. “One such way is to repeal the current AUMF’s in force and replace it with a sound strategy for the region with limited military authorities. All future military actions need to be approved by Congress before this president does any more harm and erodes more of the United States’ credibility abroad.”
Democrats from Florida also backed Israel though they did not criticize Obama the way Yoho did.
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, said on Friday she backed Israel with Palestinian violence is on the rise.
"I am very troubled by this latest wave of Palestinian violence against Israelis,” Frankel said. “No one should have to fear that their child might be stabbed while riding a bicycle down the street, or that their parents will be the next victims of a terrorist drive-by shooting. I urge President Abbas and Palestinian leaders to swiftly and strongly condemn these acts of terror and to denounce anyone who provokes violence and bloodshed. My heart goes out to the victims of these attacks and their families, and I continue to stand in solidarity with Israel."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), also called for the Palestenian leadership to rein in the attacks against Israel.
“I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the recent horrific violence in Israel. I condemn in the strongest terms the actions directly targeting innocent civilians, including children. My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” Wasserman Schultz said. “President Abbas and Palestinian leaders must take clear and meaningful steps to stop this violence and encourage unity, as Prime Minister Netanyahu has done in condemning retaliatory attacks. Excuses offered by some are irresponsible. There is absolutely no justification for violence against innocent civilians under any circumstances. All people have the right to live in peace and security, and I call for those responsible for these vicious terrorist attacks to be brought to swift justice.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
