By United with Israel
During a stump speech in Michigan last week, former US President Bill Clinton defended Israel’s response in the Gaza War to Hamas’ massacre of Israelis on October 7.
“I understand why young Palestinians and Arab Americans here in Michigan think too many people have died. I get that,” he said, but went on to note that the people of Gaza-area communities attacked by Hamas “were the most pro-friendship with Palestine, the most pro-two-state solution of any of the Israeli communities, […] and Hamas butchered them.”
“What would you do if it was your family? And you hadn’t done anything but support the homeland for the Palestinians and, one night, they come for you and slaughter the people in your village,” he asked.
He added that civilian deaths in Gaza are the fault of Hamas, not Israel, because “Hamas makes sure that they’re shielded by civilians, they’ll force you to kill civilians, if you want to defend yourself.”
Clinton also recalled his time working on a two-state solution as president of the US, during which a generous offer was made to the Palestinian Authority for a Palestinian state – which the Palestinians nevertheless rejected.
“I think part of it is that Hamas did not care about a homeland for the Palestinians – they wanted to kill Israelis and make Israel uninhabitable.”
Clinton added, “I got news for them: [the Jews] were there first, before their faith existed. In the time of King David, the southernmost tribes [of Israel] had Judea and Samaria.”