Rep. Roy calls out Biden's weak, equivocal Israel response

WASHINGTON — Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Saturday:

Today, according to press reports, President Biden held calls with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority ("PA") President Abbas. While I appreciate the President finally engaging — and recognizing Israel's right to defend itself — the read-outs unfortunately indicate more equivocation and weakness. We need moral clarity, not just weak calls for Hamas to stop firing rockets and the use of the tired language of the past while scolding Israel and preaching about two state solutions.

To make it worse, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki tweeted that the White House has "communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility." Not mentioned is perhaps the foolishness of parking one's media operations in buildings with actual terrorist organizations like Hamas.

Let us remember that Israel pulled settlements, quite literally, out of Gaza in 2005 only to have Hamas effectively take control of Gaza from the PA in 2007 — making clear why Israel is rightfully resistant to empowering neighboring states not fully and mutually committed to the existence of Israel. This is why generic calls for a "two-state solution" are not particularly meaningful or helpful.

Rather, our calls should be for full recognition of Israel's right to exist, to determine its own destiny, and to negotiate its own path forward with neighbors based on these principles. This posture was embodied by President Trump's righteous steps to stand with Israel, move the embassy to Jerusalem, defend Israel among meddling international organizations, and work with Israel to broker peace with her neighbors – and the result was an extraordinary leap forward in Middle East peace.

Yet, as President Biden finally acknowledges Israel's obvious right to defend itself, we should more strongly make clear that Israel has a responsibility to defend itself. We should send a clear message to the world that America stands unequivocally alongside Israel. Instead of just recognizing the obvious, the President should demand an immediate end to Hamas' terrorist missile attacks on Israel, provide additional Hellfire missiles and/or whatever resources our friends in Israel need to continue operating missile defense and defend herself, consider deploying one of our ships currently sitting in Spain — equipped with AEGIS Combat System — to the eastern Mediterranean. He should also make clear to the United Nations — as well as to certain Democrats in our own country — that we will not be joining in any misguided efforts to condemn Israel and meddle with their efforts to defend themselves from attack.

Our message should be simple: America stands with Israel.

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