Gaza Cheers Child Murders in Jerusalem: Presidential Candidates Take Note

Celebrations continue in Gaza as cheery Palestinian fascists applaud the multiple child murders of eight Israeli students in Jerusalem. This is not what advocates of an independent state existing side by side with Israel need right now. America’s presidential candidates should all seize the opportunity of condemning this act of mass murder. But such a condemnation from Senator Barak Obama would do much to reassure people of the Jewish faith and others who are worried that an Obama presidency would follow the disastrous Middle East policies of former President Carter. Carter has often been criticized for being hostile to the Jewish state and of making remarks that some describe as “anti-semitic.”

Senator McCain has made clear his long-standing support of the Jewish state; Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have asserted the same viewpoint in speeches. A potential problem for Obama is that the pastor of Obama’s church is criticized for traveling to Libya with Reverend Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader, to meet with Libyan president Quaddafi.

Obama is certainly responsible neither for Farrakhan’s anti-semitic remarks, nor for the travels of the minister of his Chicago church, but should not miss the opportunity to demonstrate he would not, as president, withdraw traditional U.S. support for the state of Israel. Condemning homicidal attacks against innocent Jewish children is just one way Obama could demonstrate an independent foreign policy toughness. Such a move would also distance his campaign from the perception of a Farrakhan influence.

Certainly we all mourn the deaths of these Israeli children at the hands of terrorist homicidal maniacs. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians…people of all religions…should join us in offering a prayer for the victims of this vicious attack:

Yohai Lifshitz, 18; Yehonatan Yitzhak Alder, 16; Yonadav Haim Hirshfeld, 19, Neria Cohen, 15; Roy Rot, 18; Segev Peniel Avihail, 15; Avraham David Mozes, 16; and Doron Mahareta, 16.

A United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the murders as an act of terrorism was blocked by a group of members led by Quaddafi’s Libya.