Obama defended; McCarthy wishes best to injured on ferry

By Sergey Kadinsky

Issue of June 4, 2010 / 22 Sivan 5770

As competing protests raged on Manhattan’s East Side, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn-Queens) held a town hall meeting in Kew Gardens Hills to reassure constituents on President Barack Obama’s support for Israel.

“You need allies in moments like this,’ said Weiner. “The Israelis have been open and transparent about what would happen to these boats.”

Pro-Arab protesters demonstrated outside Israel’s consulate while supporters of Israel rallied outside the Turkish consulate. The flotilla launched from Turkey, which has become increasingly belligerent toward the Jewish state.

Aware of Weiner’s staunch support for Israel, the largely Orthodox crowd focused on the president.

“He needs to do what is correct morally and ethically, regardless of party, said Belle Harbor resident Dr. Michael Frogel. “Weiner needs to scream from the halls of Congress, even if it’s against the president.”

While President Obama issued a careful statement regretting the loss of life and awaiting the results of an investigation into the confrontation, Weiner had no doubt about the aggressor in the matter.

“There is no reason why a peaceful humanitarian boat should set upon the military of the country they are visiting with sticks, bars, and pipes,” said Weiner.

Video of Israeli commandos boarding the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara show the Israelis being beaten by passengers. The Israelis carried sidearms only and had orders to fire live ammunition only if absolutely necessary. Nine people aboard the ferry were killed after the Israelis began to defend themselves against their attackers.

Weiner said that he recently joined 20 Jewish members of Congress in a meeting with Obama on his treatment of Israel. “The president conceded to his credit that mistakes had been made,” said Weiner. “Even if there is one country that gets it right and there are protests everywhere, it is still the right policy.”

Weiner said that Turkey, a member of NATO and Cold War ally, needs a strict lecture on its role in sponsoring the activist flotilla. “We have to talk tachlis about Turkey. Ever since the Gaza War, public opinion in Turkey has swayed wildly against Israel,” said Weiner.

To ensure Palestinian compliance with existing peace treaties, Weiner spoke about an amendment to American foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority, which would depend on actions, rather than promises. He also said that President Obama should not be making any demands on Israel, acting only as a facilitator between two parties.

“Obama set the bar too high for Israel, and now Abbas does not want to meet with Israel,” said Weiner.

Among other local lawmakers, Rep. Gary Ackerman said that Israel’s actions were legal in confronting the six boats.

“I strongly condemn the action of those who assaulted the Israeli troops and made the use of violence by Israeli troops necessary in self-defense,” said Ackerman. “The loss of life is regrettable, but wholly the fault and responsibility of the organizers of the effort to break through Israel and Egypt’s legitimate closure of terrorist-controlled Gaza.”

Ackerman reminded Hamas that if it simply recognized Israel, rejected violence, and adhered to existing peace treaties, the blockade would be lifted.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Nassau), released a statement about the 9 dead activists, while still supporting Israel.

“I want to express my deepest condolences to the families that lost loved ones, and my thoughts remain with those that were wounded and are still being treated in that they will have speedy recoveries,” said McCarthy. “As this situation continues to unfold, I trust that we will learn a lot more about what happened in order to help stop such violent acts from occurring again.”

McCarthy went on to say that Israel has a right to exist and keep its people safe, while advancing the peace process.

As lawmakers scrambled to reassure their constituents on Israel, the Brooklyn-based Russian-American Jewish Experience (RAJE) staged a rally outside the Turkish consulate, with signs such as “Gaza Peace Activists Don’t Use Clubs or Knives” and “Peace Activists Should Not Support Hamas.”

Rabbi David Algaze of Forest Hills condemned the Israeli Arab community for protesting the blockade. “Anybody who lives in the State of Israel has to be a supporter of the Jewish state or not be there at all,” said Algaze.

RAJE chairman Rabbi Mordechai Tokarsky said that it was clear who initiated hostilities in the confrontation. “These so-called peace activists used knives, clubs and fire from weapons stolen from soldiers, and attacked soldiers who were seeking to enforce international law,” said Tokarsky. “We will not stand silently as Israel is attacked.”