FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2023
CHICAGO GOP: WE STAND WITH ISRAEL
The Chicago Republican Party Central Committee has voted unanimously to authorize a statement in full support of Israel in the wake of the terrorist offensive of Hamas. The murderous butchering of civilians has given new proof to Golda Meir’s observation that “If the Palestinians lay down their weapons, there will be peace. If the Israelis lay down their weapons, there will be a massacre.” We call upon President Biden to undertake all actions necessary to defend Israel from the machinations of Hamas, Hezbollah, and their sponsor, Iran.
We join with the Illinois Republican Party in stating our disgust over the tepid pile of mashed potatoes that was the response of 16 Democratic members of the Illinois General Assembly, which blamed the barbaric attacks on “inequality.” Perhaps these leaders are simply ignorant, in that they overlook the wars of Arab states in 1948, 1967 and 1973 to destroy Israel, the two intifadas, or the fact that the Charter of Hamas expressly calls for “armed resistance” to the “occupation” – meaning existence – of Israel. They may not know that Israel actually withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, including the dismantling of 21 Jewish settlements, and handed control over to the Palestinians. In return the Palestinians installed Hamas, which has resulted in a steady stream of attacks, rockets and death in Israel. Perhaps the leaders are merely Anti-Semitic, in that the outright murder of hundreds of Jews is described only with the generic term of “violence.” Perhaps they are willfully blind to the threat of Iran, whose chief military officer has openly stated Iran’s intent to “annihilate” Israel within 25 years as Iran pursues development of nuclear weapons. We do not know, but we are certain of one thing: all 16 are wrong, and badly wrong. Israel has a right to defend its citizens from attack.
Unless American leaders will stand against the perpetrators of terrorism we can only expect it to spread around the world and into this country. The barbaric impulse in human nature always lurks within, needing only anger and an outlet to overwhelm what Abraham Lincoln called 'the better angels of our nature.' That impulse must always be confronted by civilized societies, be it in Israel or on the streets of Chicago.
###
