HOUSTON, Texas–Senator Ted Cruz called upon President Barrack Obama to “suspend assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) until the PA recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and takes specific and affirmative steps to renounce and eradicate terrorism.” The statement from the junior senator from Texas comes on the heels of the recent kidnapping of Israeli and American teenagers in the West Bank.
Breitbart News reported on June 13, the kidnapping of three teenagers. One of the teens was an American. The report also states, “Iranian-funded Islamic Jihad leaders called for the further kidnapping of innocent Israelis. “Our war against the enemy is raging. We must find the ways and means to release our prisoners; we must devise a clear plan to free them,” said the spokesman.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the three Jewish teenagers, two Israelis and one American,” Cruz stated, “who have been kidnapped by radical Islamic terrorists. This atrocity against both our nations reminds us that we face a mutual enemy who attacks us because of our shared commitment to the basic principles of freedom.”
“This act of terrorism should also alert the Obama Administration to the fact that working with, recognizing, and/or funding any ‘unity’ government that includes those that seek the destruction of the Jewish State is naive and foolish,” Cruz continued. “Such legitimization of the enemies of Israel and the United States only invites more violence. As Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out, ‘You remember that Israel warned the international community about the dangers of endorsing the Fatah-Hamas unity pact. The dangers of that pact now should be abundantly clear to all.'”
Sen. Cruz recently returned from a trip to Israel. While he was on the trip, Breitbart Texas reported the senator’s observations of the kindness and compassion the Israeli military towards Syrian victims of the harsh civil war. He also noted his support for the bill sponsored by Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), which would establish triggers for re-imposing sanctions on Iran. Cruz blamed Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for blocking the bill which, Cruz explained, has strong bipartisan support in the Senate. He said Reid is standing with the Obama administration and blocking a vote on the bill.
Cruz concluded his remarks about the kidnapping by calling for decisive action by the President towards the PA. “President Obama should immediately direct the Department of State to suspend assistance to the Palestinian Authority until the PA recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and takes specific and affirmative steps to renounce and eradicate terrorism,” Cruz concluded. “This most recent vicious attack on innocent young civilians demonstrates beyond any doubt that the PA is not fulfilling these conditions, and not one more U.S. taxpayer dollar should be sent to support them until they do.”
Bob Price is a staff writer and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.
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