US President Barak Obama’s nominee for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, is not a friend of Israel by any means. In the latest tidbit of information being released, Hagel is quoted back in 2010 during a meeting with university students expressing his concerns that Israel is becoming an “apartheid state” and he referred to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a “radical”. Newsweek reports the information was released by former student Kenneth Wagner, who was present when Hagel made his comments. Wagner shared an email he wrote during Hagel’s talk with the Washington Free Beacon.
“I am sitting in a lecture by Chuck Hagel at Rutgers,” Wagner wrote in the email, which was time-stamped as having been sent at the time of Hagel’s talk. “He basically said that Israel has violated every UN resolution since 1967, that Israel has violated its agreements with the Quartet, that it was risking becoming an apartheid state if it didn’t allow the Palestinians to form a state. He said that the settlements were getting close to the point where a contiguous Palestinian state would be impossible.”
“He said that he [thought] that Netanyahu was a radical and that even Livni, who was hard-nosed thought he was too radical and so wouldn’t join in a coalition with him. … He said that Hamas has to be brought in to any peace negotiation,” Wagner wrote.
Wagner, a pro-Israel activist, called Hagel’s comments “pretty shocking.”
This was not an isolated incident and Hagel has commented negatively regarding Israel as well as American Jews, talking of how “the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people.” Newsweek adds he also said “Israel treats the Palestinians like animals”, once again attesting to his anti-Israel leanings.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Despite Hagel, insults to PM Netanyahu, weapons to Egypt, pressure by the white House for Israel not to build in the Yesha, speechs by Obama in Cairo—despite, despite, despite—liberal Jews in the US would still vote for B.O. plenty. Jabotinsky was correct—when it comes to politics Jews (not all) are simpletons.
B’vah’chah’shah, ALL Jews do more Talmud Torah, more davenning and more deeds of kindness—and be careful of ALL goy including me !!
Shalom, Gerry Mullen
And Chuck Schmur supports this guy!
Hagel is a danger to the United States, not just Israel. He demonstrates the same thinking that got Europe into a Second World War, namely, appeasement of bullies and abandonment of friends.
The fact the obama proposed this danger shows obama is more of a danger to the world then people would be believe
the AJC and the ADL have already staed that the Senate should carefully review Hages statements before any vote is taken. Where are our organizations ( the Orthodox Jewish ones) on this issue. Do we need others to fight our battles? Particularly disappointing is Mr. schumer who has prided himself in being “Shomer Yisrael”. If not for his support after his so called 90 minute vetting of Hagel this nomonation would be dead. He kosherized it. Hopefully with each additional disclosure he will rethink his position.
I disagree with many of Hagel’s positions but its a done deal….he will be confirmed next Tuesday afternoon in the Senate after a cloture vote on the motion to proceed where even McCain has said he will support the Obama nomination going forward. Its time to move forward and be prepared for the hard negotiations with the President’s choice to head the state deparment for the next 4 years rather than fighting yesterday’s political battles.
Schumer is the real culprit