A Tale of Two Condemnations

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

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Following Monday’s deadly terror stabbings, Western leaders engaged in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process were quick to issue statements of condemnation, though their substance was disparate, and very telling as to whom Jerusalem could truly count on to understand its security needs.

First up was new European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who expressed “concern” over the attacks, which she insisted was “further evidence” that the Palestinians now erupting in violence must be given their own state, lest the violence grow worse.

Starkly contrasting the European envoy, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird explicitly condemned not only Monday’s stabbings, but a string of deadly terror attacks over the past couple of weeks. He also laid the blame for the escalating violence not on the absence of a Palestinian state, but on Arab leaders who continue to incite against the Jews.

“Those leaders who regularly issue [statements of incitement] cannot plead ignorance when terrorist attacks like today’s occur,” said Baird. “On behalf of all Canadians, we stand with the people of Israel and offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims.”

The response of the Obama Administration fell somewhere in between these two examples.

“We strongly condemn the stabbing today in the West Bank, and we deeply regret the loss of life,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki some hours before the soldier wounded in the Tel Aviv stabbing succumbed to his wounds.

“It is absolutely critical that parties take every possible measure to protect civilians and de-escalate tensions,” she added.

PHOTO: The knife used in Monday’s stabbing attack in Judea, in which a young Jewish woman was killed and two others were wounded.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014