Posted on 05/14/2018 4:04:09 PM PDT by Kaslin
Considering the liberal media’s history of being anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian, Monday’s White House Press Briefing featured plenty of leading questions for Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah suggesting that Israel was responsible for the deadly protests by Palestinians along with the Israeli/Gaza border. This all came as the U.S. Embassy opened in Jerusalem.
Some were fair (such as one from the Fox News Channel’s John Roberts) and others touched on the controversy of the Trump administration inviting Pastors John Hagee and Robert Jeffress, but the most obnoxious ones came concerning the brazen violence by Palestinians.
Anti-Israel WH Reporters Demand Israel Show ‘Restraint,’ Blame Them for Palestinian Deaths
Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland went there first, wondering if the U.S. will be “calling on Israel to use restraint when dealing with these folks.”
Shah hit back that “Hamas is responsible for these tragic deaths, that their rather cynical exploitation of the situation is what's leading to these deaths and we want them to stop.”
Holland fretted in his first of two follow-ups that Shah wouldn’t admit that there’s a “burden on Israel to do something to sort of rein it in.” Instead of offering a question about what the embassy meant for peace in general, but he wanted to know if “today’s situation hurt[s]” the chances of Israeli/Palestinian peace.
While a shorter exchange, NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander smugly questioned Shah about whether Israelis have a right to “kill” Palestinians “at will” (click “expand” to read the back-and-forth):
ALEXANDER: If I can very quickly, the French foreign minister, Raj, said about what's taking place in Gaza, he urged Israeli authorities to exercise discretion and restraint. So, to be clearly. Does the U.S. not agree with the French that the Israeli authorities should exercise discretion and restraint.
SHAH: We believe that Hamas is responsible for what's going on.
ALEXANDER: So there’s no responsibility beyond that on Israeli authorities. Just kill at will?
SHAH: What I’m saying is that we believe Hamas, an organization, is engaged in cynical action that's leading to these deaths.
At two different points in the briefing, Breakfast Media’s Andrew Feinberg and Yahoo’s Hunter Walker inquired about Hagee and Jeffress, but the worst exchange came from a female reporter whose face was obstructed by most camera angles (and not shown at all on some networks).
She first posed this question to Shah:
On the issue of peace between the White House and Palestinians, when is the last time the White House reached out to the Palestinian leadership and will, given the high numbers of casualties, Palestinians calling what’s happened a massacre, will the White House be reaching out?
When Shah replied that he didn’t know, the same reporter used remarks by Jared Kushner in Jerusalem blaming Palestinians for instances of violence to then take this anti-Jewish swipe: “But given the fact that it's only Palestinians that are being killed. Should Israel not shoulder some of the blame?”
Shah upped his rebuttal, calling Monday’s campaign to blame Israel (which, by extension, includes the media) “a gruesome and unfortunate propaganda attempt.”
The reporter persisted with this possible future Notable Quotable: “But people are throwing rocks 50 meters from the wall and were faced with sniper attack. I mean, is the White House in denial of the split screen reality that’s occurring?”
Based on my experience watching press briefings, it appeared to have been Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN) correspondent Jessica Stone, which is amusing since CGTN is the global arm of Chinese state media.
If my suspicion is correct, that’s quite ironic that the reporter representing the Chinese Communist Party is suggesting Israel is indiscriminately killing a group of people.
Following Holland’s line, The Daily Mail’s Francesca Chambers asked the last policy-related question on Israel by asking Shah if this “split screen” has “undermined” the Trump administration’s upcoming peace plan. On cue, Shah flatly denied it.
White House Press Briefing May 14, 2018 2:20 p.m. Eastern
JOHN ROBERTS: At the same time, there was the celebratory air in Jerusalem as the U.S. was moving its embassy, in the south of Israel along the border with Gaza, there was a lot of violence that resulted in more than 41 people losing their lives. Is the President concerned about the demonstrations there and Israel's response to people trying to climb over the fence?
RAJ SHAH: Well, we’re aware of the reports of continued violence in Gaza today. The responsibility for these tragic deaths rest squarely with Hamas. Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response and, as the Secretary of State said, Israel has the right to defend itself.
(....)
STEVE HOLLAND: Raj, the death toll is over 50 in Gaza. Is the U.S. calling on Israel to use restraint when dealing with these folks?
SHAH: Well, we believe that, you know, Hamas is responsible for these tragic deaths, that their rather cynical exploitation of the situation is what's leading to these deaths and we want them to stop.
HOLLAND: There is no burden on Israel to do something to sort of rein it in?
SHAH: No. We think that we shouldn't loss sight of the fact that Hamas is the one that, frankly, bears responsibility for the dire situation right now in Gaza.
HOLLAND: And lastly, Raj, the United States has been wanting to put out a peace plan. How does today's situation hurt that?
SHAH: I don't think it hurts the peace plan. The peace plan will be introduced at the appropriate time, but what today is about is following through on what the President promised and believes, and it is also recognition of reality. I think we've, for decades, you know, walked on eggshells pretending that Jerusalem isn't the capital of Israel when it obviously is and this is just a recognition of reality.
(....)
PETER ALEXANDER: If I can very quickly, the French foreign minister, Raj, said about what's taking place in Gaza, he urged Israeli authorities to exercise discretion and restraint. So, to be clearly. Does the U.S. not agree with the French that the Israeli authorities should exercise discretion and restraint.
SHAH: We believe that Hamas is responsible for what's going on.
ALEXANDER: So there’s no responsibility beyond that on Israeli authorities. Just kill at will?
SHAH: What I’m saying is that we believe Hamas, an organization, is engaged in cynical action that's leading to these deaths.
(....)
ANDREW FEINBERG: I wanted to ask you about the embassy opening today --
SHAH: Yep.
FEINBERG: — the person who delivered the indication. Robert Jeffress. He's made some statements in the past that he believes that Muslims are going to help, Jews are going to hell, Hindus are going to hell. Do you think that, considering, especially, his remarks that he’s one of the best people to speak at the opening of our embassy in Israel and can you give us a little information of how that came to be?
SHAH: Well, I honestly don't know how that came to be, and I know that — I think it's — I think it's Pastor Jeffress has had a strong relationship with many people in the faith community, as well as folks in the administration, and Republicans on the Hill and others. I believe Democrats as well. So, I think he has a longstanding relationship with public officials. You know, beyond that, I don't really have a whole lot to add.
FEINBERG: If I could follow-up real quick. Do you think it's appropriate for a person who thinks that — who said that Jews are going to hell to speak at the opening of our embassy in Israel?
SHAH: I — I, you know, haven't seen those remarks, but obviously, those aren't the remarks that the President feels.
(....)
JESSICA STONE: On the issue of peace between the White House and Palestinians, when is the last time the White House reached out to the Palestinian leadership and will, given the high numbers of casualties, Palestinians calling what’s happened a massacre, will the White House be reaching out?
SHAH: Well, I don't, honestly, have an answer for you and I’ll get back to you.
STONE: And if I could just follow up then —
SHAH: Sure.
STONE:— I mean, Jared Kushner, in his speech, pointed a finger at the Palestinians, saying they were responsible for provoking violence. But given the fact that it's only Palestinians that are being killed. Should Israel not shoulder some of the blame?
SHAH: Well, as I said earlier, we believe Hamas bears the responsibility. Look, this is a propaganda attempt. I mean, this is a gruesome and unfortunate propaganda attempt. I think the Israeli government has spent weeks trying to handle this without violence.
STONE: But people are throwing rocks —
SHAH: We find it very unfortunate.
STONE: — 50 meters from the wall and were faced with sniper attack. I mean, is the White House in denial of the split screen reality that's occurring?
SHAH: Again, we believe that Hamas is responsible for this.
(....)
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS: Raj, on Israel, the United States and the White House are hoping to release their peace plan in the next few months. Going back to that split screen, I understand that you're blaming these on Hamas. But does the White House feel that the position is undermined now by these deaths that have happened today that, last time, the count was at 52.
SHAH: No, I don't. Look, the peace plan will be brought forward at the appropriate time and evaluated on its merits but the actions today, both the opening of the Embassy in Jerusalem and these tragedies in southern Israel, you know, we don't think will impact the peace plan.
(....)
HUNTER WALKER: You said before that you hadn't heard Pastor Jeffress' remarks. Among other things, he said “Mormonism, Judaism, Hinduism, they lead people to a separate of god and an eternity in hell.” I also want to talk about Pastor John Hagee, who was involved in that ceremony. He once said that Hitler was an instrument of god. Separate from that, on Sunday, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump met with a Yitzhak Yosef, the Chief Sephardic Rabbi in Israel and he once compared black people to monkeys. So I'm wondering, in all three of these instances, can you tell us anything about how these people were brought in to the ceremonies? And do you think it is regrettable that people with these views were involved with the American government?
SHAH: I don't have any read-out on how they became involved with these events. All I'll say is that those specific views that you specifically outlined, if they’re accurate reflections of what was said, wouldn't be embraced by this white house. Beyond that, I don’t have anything else.
[SHOUTING]
BRIAN KAREM: Shouldn’t you know — shouldn’t you know before running to the podium whether or not this guy is worthy of talking to people at our Embassy?
Despite the fact Muslims have 46 times the population and surround most of the borders of Israel with 12 countries nearby, the stupid “refugees” have found no place to be accepted by their own Muslim brethren in 70 years! Something is wrong with them. Making do on dirt floors in tents with no education and no health care or jobs for these “refugees” for 70 years and counting?
Only Israel to live in or nothing?
Try plan B. Like the Vietnamese or countless others who set up a good life somewhere new.
I don’t understand why Trump doesn’t just do away with the WH press corp and replace them with non-leftist rags like NY Times, CNN etc
Assume a handout goes to alot of local bums listing (with map) the locations of all these leftard reporters homes/properties/etc.. saying that HERE is a place to be a squatter/liberate some property/have a rage party because its owned by an un-armed leftard who will be passive and ‘show restraint’ and not call the cops .
DO What You Want WITHOUT REPERCUSSIONS -— ALL ARE WELCOME.
What response do you think THAT would have from these leftard reporters who don’t think Israel has Right to their own Safety and Property ?
Yes you guesses it : SHRIEKING LEFTIST HYPOCRITE ONCE AGAIN.
I don’t understand why Biran Karem, the so-called White House correspondent for Playboy Magazine, is even allowed in the press room.
—Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland went there first, wondering if the U.S. will be “calling on Israel to use restraint when dealing with these folks.”
I wonder if Steve Holland knows that the charter of “these folks [Hamas]” calls for the extirpation of the Jewish race?
Michael Savage last week started in on Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper and other buffoons who should not be held sacroscant from the law like they are totally above the law. Someone should go after them.
CNN and the others will wrap the Am.flag around themselves and claim they have freedom under the Constitution. HYPOCRITES! They use the document as toilet paper all day and then suddenly cherish its freedoms when it comes to them—not Trump or us.
Palestinians are so stupid they bring rocks to a gun fight.
ha!
well....all i know ...from a distance, admittedly... is that DJT has a lot lot lot of swamp draining to get around to... hopefully before the swamp alligators finish DJT off
yes. agreed.
they are liars and some of them dangerous to our country too
If the rocks are hurled at people, treating that as a lethal attack is understandable. We’re hearing confused stories and being expected to get our pants on fire about it.
(Or hair)
Donald wears Kevlar pants!
So there it is, Israel is a genocidal apartheid nation intent on murdering innocent arabs who for some odd reason were amassed on the border planting mines, destroying their own humanitarian aid lines, starting fires and of course trying to enter Israel to merely buy a couple latkes and menorahs.
Michael Savage was REALLY ticking me off today on his program. He kept saying what a horrible idea it was to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, what did Trump and the U.S. need the inevitable fallout for, why couldn’t he wait, etc. It was really like listening to some slimy European or Palescumian speaking. He had a female caller who claimed to be Orthodox, but I had my doubts as to her loyalties. If I could have spoken to Savage, I would have told him to shut his mouth about Israel and keep talking about his latest treif food adventures at treif restaurants. THAT is what he is qualified to discuss about anything Jewish. Since he is not an observant Jew (and I get a definite feeling from him that he is currently actually following another religion), he cannot understand the significance of Jerusalem and its status of capital of Israel. So very many prayers declare the holiness of Jerusalem, admonishing the one praying never to forget Jerusalem, etc. How could he criticize the long-overdue recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state of Israel? Sometimes I swear his mind is taken over by some alien being.
I know what you are saying, Savage was wild, so rude to all his callers, had to turn him off.
I agree with your thoughts there.
>>In my world, “restraint” is what they are showing. I would be using napalm and cluster bombs.<<
Don’t feel disappointed, I suspect IDF will be granting your wish in the near future because it looks as if the aggressors are itching to meet their virgins.
>>Yes, the BBC claims that Israel has to defend its actions but in truth it is Hamas who needs to be held to account for today’s actions.<<
Israel should not dignify the BBC or the UN with any response whatsoever. Demanding a defense for dispatching the aggressors is an INSULT.
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