“And frankly — and I’m not pointing the finger at anyone else, but if another country, we felt, were taking severe or draconian measures in the wake of some kind of attack, we might also comment.” So State Department spokesman Mark Toner would have us believe that only Israel takes severe and draconian measures after jihad terror attacks. This is a falsehood straight out of the “Palestinian” propaganda playbook. The State Department has never addressed the fact that the “Palestinians” manufacture Israeli atrocities and try to provoke civilian casualties they can then use for propaganda purposes — instead, its policies are based on a credulous acceptance of “Palestinian” claims.
“State press briefing — Other than Israel, has admin ever pushed allies for ‘restraint’ after terror attack? — State spox: ‘No,'” by Omri Ceren, The Israel Project, June 10, 2016:
On Wednesday two Palestinian terrorists opened fire in a Tel Aviv food market, killing four Israelis and wounding another 16. On Thursday Israel responded by among other things revoking expanded Ramadan travel permits, which would have enabled Palestinians to travel out of the West Bank and access places in Israel like Tel Aviv [a].
On Friday morning UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Al-Hussein condemned the “alleged [Palestinian] attackers” but at the same time blasted Israel for revoking the permits: he said Israel’s moves were “prohibited collective punishment” and added that they could be responsible for further Palestinian terrorism [b].
This afternoon State Department spokesperson Toner was asked whether the administration rejected or agreed with Al-Hussein’s accusation. Instead Toner repeatedly refused to “characterize” Israel’s response. Reuters’s Arshad Mohammed opened by asking why the administration couldn’t simply “make an argument… it’s a security measure rather than a punitive measure.” The AP’s Matt Lee wrapped up with “All right. I give up.”
I’ve pasted a full transcript at the bottom of this email. In between all the declining to characterize, there was this part about the administration pressuring Israel in the aftermath of Wednesday’s terror attack:
LEE, AP: Last one. Do you recall — and this is going back to first — my earlier question, which I don’t think you answered, which is — do you recall ever feeling the need to advise, to warn, to urge governments in Europe to use restraint as they respond, when they respond to terrorist attacks?
TONER: I can’t come up with an instance, no.
LEE, AP: OK, so why is it — is the situation with the Israelis and the Palestinians just so unique that you think that it is required?
TONER: Well, again — so a couple of thoughts on that, actually. First of all, these are — this is an ongoing conflict that involves two parties.
LEE, AP: Right.
TONER: We don’t want to see tensions exacerbated on either side, and we realize that when these senseless acts of violence and terrorism take place, that they only escalate tensions, understandably. We want to see a diminution of violence — we want to see an end to violence, we want to see a diminution of tensions. With that understanding and that awareness, that we do comment on the actions that Israel has taken. And frankly — and I’m not pointing the finger at anyone else, but if another country, we felt, were taking severe or draconian measures in the wake of some kind of attack, we might also comment. I’m not saying that this is that case, but I’m saying we might. You’ve actually done well. You forced me to answer a hypothetical.
Manuele says
THAT SHOW THE STUPIDITY OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND I SAY THAT IT IS A DELIBERATE MOVE TO SUCK UP ON THE TERRORIST MUSLIMS. DIABOLICAL AND PURE EVIL THEY ALL ARE.
SBJ says
The USA attacked/blamed Iraq falsely for 9/11. How is that showing restraint? How about Yemen? What’s their excuse for having boots on the ground there? It’s the US and their $upport of various Islamic terrorist groups that’s not showing any shame or restraint.
SBJ says
Without US, Saudi military funding there wouldn’t be any terrorist groups. Any fundies would of been squished long ago.
mortimer says
When the wolves are attacking and killing the sheep, the sheep should do nothing to stop the wolves.
“It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion.” – William Ralph Inge
JMB says
But remember, while all this terrorism is happening and generally aimed at us in the West, we are being constantly reminded that we should try and respect Ramadan.
And, yes, it is a bit like the mother sheep telling her little flock, “please try to respect and understand the Big Bad Wolf and his desire to eat us but remember most wolves are probably quite peace loving and won’t attack us”. And then another very senior mother sheep says; “We must try and reach out and be friends with him, and, no my children, don’t say anything bad about Big Bad or any other Wolf, that would be racist and wolfophobic”.
We in the west have truly lost the plot.
mortimer says
Notice that Muslims attacked in a MARKET PLACE.
That is the sacred Sunna (example) of their prophet. Mohammed murdered Jewish civilians in a market and said it was the will of Allah. Mohammed knew what Allah wanted.
Muslims will be attacking in market places around the world this year. Expect it at the end of Ramadan. The attack in the article occurred at the BEGINNING of Ramadan… the MONTH OF JIHAD.
Jay Boo says
TOTAL BULL SHIT
There are so many things wrong with that comment.
Where to begin?
Mortimer make up your mind
Your comments are often full of ambiguous duplicity.
The truth I’m contrast is easy to say
Mortimer said
“Mohammed murdered Jewish civilians in a market and said it was the will of Allah. (Mohammed knew what Allah wanted.) ”
Mohammed knew what Allah wanted, mortimer???
Why not say that Muhammad committed shirk by partnering with Allah?
sacred ??? will of Allah ???
Mohammed knew what Allah wanted ???
Muslims will be attacking WATCHOUT
(let’s be defensive and feel helpless)
———————————————————–
Jay Boo says
Very astute Mickey.
Is this coming from the same commenter who has just wrongly mistook comment with (EX) before Muslim?
How you manage to siphon even a trace of sarcasm out of that proves that the power of wishful thinking can accomplish anything.
Yet, I am puzzled, how is it that you so easily conjure up a defense of mortimers pretense but overlook my (EX) before Muslim in my comment about marrying a Middle-East wife?
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
This may be overkill (giving more explanation than needed), but here is a 3-minute explanation of verbal irony (and its subset, sarcasm):
Jay Boo says
When Sarcasm is missing its harpoon
becomes a “self-satirized” lampoon.
Just like the Quran
it leaves the door just a bit too open
to Islamic double interpretation.
Is this a clever biting sarcasm posing as praise
or just a ornate fence walking maze?
The pretext posing as a parody has
way too much waffle room for Muzzie insanity
It whispers of Islam’s favorite tune.
Jay Boo says
Do we have…?
a nuanced hint to add mystique or exploiting a subtle semantic shift
a clever connotation or a mischievous display of wit
a sarcastic praise to jab with delight and amaze
Or none of these
Sarcasm not well executed is worse than an understatement.
A sprinkle of misdirecting praise is fine as long as it is not drenched in way too much ambiguity.
It offers only a wide open door to double interpretation without any clincher.
Rather than lift Islam’s veil for a peek, it offers every carpet kisser a convenient cave of retreat.
It is merely passivity mocking aggression and surrenders a veil of reverence allowing Islam to use as protection
Any Jihadi reading some of mort’s comments of this type would love the wording.
Jay Boo says
Note
(Just like the Quran) — is only in reference to abrogation
Yes,
I am well aware that the later violent verses are quite clear.
duh Swami says
Tier ain’t no saints in the US State Dept…President Trump would do well to replace nearly all of then…Hillary will keep then on a they love and protect Islam just like she does…
Mark Swan says
I agree duh Swami if Mr. Trump is elected He had better do a lot of housecleaning right away.
Agnishtoma says
Well the same thing happens to India. After every terror attack, the US does the same crap to India. It advises restraint. India has bee crying about this for the past 30 to 40 years. I guess might is always right. If India had gone after Pak from the begining it would not have been asked too. The US would dare not advise china if something similar happened.
Charlie in NY says
But these are not “senseless” acts of violence. If the State Department was interested in learning the motive, it need only read or listen to what Hamas and the PA tell their Arab public.at a minimum, the U.S. should, in a public display that it stands behind Israel as a permanent member of the international community, that it is moving its embassy to “West” Jerusalem. Further terror attacks will cause the U.S. to review its support of UNRWA and issue legal opinions explaining the obvious: there is no legal basis for the Palestinian Arab claim of a “right of return” but it is, at best, only a subject for negotiation. Finally, the U.S. might announce that freedom of worship is a universal value that applies to the Temple Mount. Taking these steps – whose purpose is to underline the utter futility of the terrorists goals of destroying Israel – would be the best way to move the conflict to a resolution. To demand concessions from Israel, and asking for “restraint” is just as much a concession to Israel’s sovereignty as asking for it to surrender land, merely emboldens the terror groups.
In a well ordered universe, the proper response for Israel is to target the terror organizations and make them pay a price. But telling the Israelis (and Indians, according to one of the commentators) to exercise restraint sends a clear signal that whatever the provocation, the response will not be a crushing blow but something acceptable to the terror groups as within “the cost of doing business.” And the dynamic of death will then continue. Of course, when the U.S. was attacked, “restraint” meant invading Afghanistan and Iraq – so our stance is in the nature of “do as I say, not as I do.”
David Drake says
The people under the Muslim in chief have no honor. They cannot be reasoned with. The only way to reach them is to ” out” publicly the true allegiance of the great deceiver! Then you can shame his underlings in the light of the truth.
duh Swami says
Protecting the image of Islam at all cost is a fools errand…It’s worse than a crime, it is a mistake…
Mark Swan says
A very serious mistake indeed.
Jay Boo says
Pro-Muslim anti-Judeo-Christian
This is to be expected from the admiration a duplicitous (alleged Christian) President Obama who fawns over Islam but insults Christianity even Jesus’ (Sermon on the Mount).
Whether a person is a Christian or an Atheist on Agnostic, it is obvious that when Obama shamelessless tried to imply that Jesus’ (Sermon on the Mount) he was grasping at specks of literalism and seeing only what his Muslim advisors (Slave Masters) have advised him to see. Why should he behave any different toward Israel?
I am beginning to suspect that Wellington is correct about Obama not being very wise rather than merely being just unscrulous as I earlier believed.
No one need take my word for it in reference to Jesus’ (Sermon on the Mount)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=ESV
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20
Jay Boo says
Administration
Steve Klein says
Bad idea:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-shadow-of-sarona-attack-jews-and-muslims-unite-for-ramadan/
In the shadow of Sarona attack, Jews and Muslims unite for Ramadan
Initiative brings Israelis to Arab homes during Islamic holy month to break fast, bread and sow the seeds of friendship
BY DOV LIEBER June 11, 2016, 1:36 pm 1
Steve Klein says
‘….The mayor also had some words of criticism against the Israeli government’s decision following the Tel Aviv shooting attack to cancel the permits of tens of thousands of Palestinians to enter Israel during the month, calling the move “collective punishment” and “a mistake.”
Michelle N says
OK… I’m sorry but I’m just going to speak plainly and very bluntly here.
Who is the State Department and ultimately the White House fucking kidding with this “restraint” crap?! Isreal is under attack on their streets and borders almost on a daily bases from terror attacks! Now it’s happened in what is known to be a high tourist destination in Isreal for not only Israelis but also foreigners from different country’s! Isreal HAS TO protect the lives of not only it’s citizens but the lives of tourist as well as their tourism economy. If that means slapping Palestinians in the face then so be it! If that means canceling work visas and permission to celebrate Ramadan then so be that too! The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few! Maybe if the so called “peaceful Muslims” that we keep getting told about would start standing up to those that terrorize thru acts of barbarism and threats of caliphates and help make a change towards peace, then things would go different in time once trust could be established. My guess is though that that would take a complete reformation of Islam which hasn’t happened in almost 1400 years and I don’t see happening anytime soon.
Also, someone from our government FINALLY SPEAKS and THIS is the way they choose?! Is this how our government spoke out after the Paris attacks? No!!! To me personally I feel this act not only brings more shame to our country from a so called “leader” that would much rather try to make allies with known communist countries rather then stand beside the only truly Christian accepting allies we have in the Middle East, I fear it also drives a deeper wedge between our two nations to wit I HOPE Isreal understands that this administration doesn’t speak for the whole voice of America and that we still stand beside Isreal.
Hans Schneider says
The state department always was anti Israel. No matter under which administration.
Hope says
Shame on you, Barack Obama, you and your entire administration. You are an absolute disgrace. You posed as a Christian for political gain, just to win elections. You have done so many evil things, but your hatred toward Israel tops the list. You are an enemy of democracy. I say these things now, while I still have First Amendment rights! If your dog friend, Hillary is elected, freedom of speech will be a thing of the past.
Nigel GFF says
“… taking severe or draconian measures in the wake of some kind of attack …”
Toner’s tone is, well, discriminatory! ‘draconian measures’ / ‘some kind of attack’.
The bloke is a God damned antisemite. ‘Some kind of attack’. Unbelievable. I had to rewrite the words to convince myself that I hadn’t misread the original.
And, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Al-Hussein.
“… he said Israel’s moves were “prohibited collective punishment” and added that they could be responsible for further Palestinian terrorism.”
I must admit to ignorance of the UN’s collective punishment rules, but potential further terrorism by Palestinians is clearly a threat and one they’ll (the Israelis) would bring down on themselves. Namely, a suggestion to ‘suck it up or else’. (By the way, which Palestinians, any or all? An odd admission.).
“… further Palestinian terrorism”. I’m guessing that the next attacks will resound with cries of ‘We do this because of your collective punishment of innocent Palestinians’, followed by their usual war cry.
All excuses for these attacks are contained within their fantastical book.
Nigel GFF says
Having reread this I regret the sentence “The bloke is a God damned antisemite.”
To my eyes and ears the sentence is ugly and harsh. I will endeavour to expunge such a crude useage of the written word. Toner remains slippery so and so, though.
Walter Sieruk says
First, that US State Department advise is folly. This is because if the Israelis use “restraint” if will one be view by the jihad -minded Muslims as sign of “weakness.” For the only language violent jihadists will understand is the “language” of being on the receiving end of a strong force and power of military might. .Second, just this very week that brutal and murderous jihad terror attack in the city of Tel Aviv in the State of Israel was heinous act of Islamic terrorism. Be it by operatives of ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, or members of some other like-minded jihad entity. Even if those two jihad-mind Muslims were engaging in a “lone Wolf” jihad attack. All such deadly violent action is sanctioned in the “holy book’ of Islam the Koran. Which instructs in violence and killing for the cause of Islam. As found in, for example, 4: 89. 5:33. 9:5,111,123. 47:4. In other words the Koran inspires and causes such hideous violence. Furthermore, another role the Koran has in such deadly Islamic terror attacks in the Jewish nation of Israel is that the Koran contains many negative about the Jewish people. The reason that the Koran reads as it does have much to do with the history of the founder and prophet of Islam, who is Muhammad. This is for a specific time period of his life Muhammad lived among many Jewish people and he liked them at first. Later then they would not accept his claim of being of prophet, Muhammad then took is dislike to them that then turned into bitterness and even hate for them. So in the hate and bitterness he spoke many derogatory things about the as even referring to them as “apes and swine.” Such word of bitterness and hate, along with other thing he said, where written down on things and then later after his death those words were together together and then eventually, in time went in the composition of the Koran. Therefore, that why the Koran reads and in does about the Jewish people, as in calling them descendants of “apes and swine.” As seen in the Koran in 2:65; 7:166.; 5:60. Furthermore, as a Christian I can keyboard that there is a chance the Muhammad actually might had been a prophet but the important thing to understand is that Muhammad was NOT a prophet send by God. Instead, Muhammad was a deceptive, lying false prophet send by Satan to lead many people astray and even and straight into hell. Jesus, in fact, had predicted and warned of the coming of such men as Muhammad. For Jesus taught “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. In addition, the Bible further warns that “many false prophets are gone out into the world.” First John 4:1. [K.J.V.]
Champ says
Thank you, Walter, great comment.
“Jesus, in fact, had predicted and warned of the coming of such men as Muhammad. For Jesus taught “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. In addition, the Bible further warns that “many false prophets are gone out into the world.” First John 4:1. [K.J.V.]”
*Very* true.
Angemon says
Oh, great, more of the same claptrap – preventing jihadis from attacking will simply drive jihadis to attack…
Wellington says
Personally speaking,, I’m a fan of no restraint against barbarians. The uncivilized must fear the civilized more than the other way around lest civilization itself be put in great jeopardy.
Mark Swan says
That Is Profoundly and Absolutely Fact.
Wellington says
Thank you for your reply, Mark. Yes, it’s just like Obama and his ilk to get things ass backwards, calling for restraint by the civilized power, in this case Israel, while not in any meaningful way excoriating or calling for restraint by the barbarian element, once again Muslims behaving badly as barbarians tend to do.
Mark Swan says
Wellington we know, the so called Palestinian, seem to be forced on the state of
Israel. The World it seems to be set on making Israel as Hindered as possible, Yet
The US did offer the only real concern—and now—well I guess we will just have to
wait and see.
America had better focus real hard on rebuilding quickly…our economy…military…
and social values…our True Alliances that are flapping in the wind…or the wolf will be at the door.
We don’t have time for Islamism or Progressivism…Multiculturalism…
just Nationalism and Now.
somehistory says
First of all, the tool is lying. The countries that didn’t wish to accept any moslims as *refugees* and allow an invasion, were criticized. Nigeria was told to exercise restraint in its dealings with the boko murdering kidnappers of little girls.
Any country that chooses to defend itself from moslims and their acts of terror is criticized by the state dept
It is more apparent with Israel because Israel faces the attacks daily and the moslims are funded by other governments in their actions, while those governments deny that the moslims are guilty of wrongdoing…claiming they are *occupied* and other lies.
This toner guy speaks with the same incoherent, non-sentences as the others have done, trying to appear as though they have integrity, honesty and truth on their side.
It is clear just whose side the government is on…and it isn’t the side of good and right actions..
WorkingClassPost says
Personally I think he’s got it right, restraint is just what’s needed.
We don’t want any ‘phobic backlash now, do we?
linnte says
The USA feels it has a right to tell other countries what to do because maybe we have Army bases in all those countries? And the USA gives Israel 4.5 billion dollars every year, so our financial support gives USA leverage and a kind of blackmail!? I still stand on USA needs to mind our own business and concentrate on our own country. Although, now I can’t IMAGINE stopping our yearly subsidies to Israel where as before, I was appalled at that.
Dennis says
Someone needs to say it, so I will: ISRAEL FOREVER, LONG LIVE ISRAEL!