U.S. State Department Rhetoric on Israel is Cause for Concern
Listed in: Israel, Other Foreign Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases
Spokesman: "We Deeply Regret and Deplore Israeli Defense Force Actions"
Washington, DC: State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker on Monday invoked exceptionally harsh language to address Israel's recent actions in the wake of the assassination of Israel's cabinet member and Minister of Tourism Rehavam Zeevi. During his daily press briefing, Reeker discussed the Middle East situation at length, noting the American government's demands that Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority take stronger steps against terrorism. But reserving his strongest criticism for Israel, Reeker commented, "We deeply regret and deplore Israeli defense force actions that have killed numerous Palestinian civilians over the weekend."
"Diplomatic words carry a special meaning, and in the sphere of diplomacy, the word 'deplore' is a superlative that cannot fairly be applied to Israel in this time of crisis," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "The State Department last used the term 'deplore' in a briefing when it noted its horror at the massacre of 24 civilians in Columbia on October 10th, by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia - a paramilitary organization previously identified by the State Department as a terrorist organization. We are concerned by the use of these words now given the deep, strategic partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel.
"The work of terrorists in Israel has led not only to an ever-growing drumbeat of civilian deaths and destruction, but most recently to an unprecedented crime - the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister. To be sure, Israel must be cognizant of the pressures and constraints facing our government as our leaders assemble and maintain an international coalition to fight terrorism. But at the same time, the use of rhetoric such as this by the Department of State poses many of its own dangers, including sending signals - perhaps inadvertently - to other countries about how America will treat its close ally, Israel, in this difficult time. We would urge that the utmost caution be used by our officials and spokespeople when discussing Israel's actions in confronting its own scourge of terrorism."
