By: Hana Levi Julian – The Jewish Press
Canada has firmly condemned last week’s Palestinian Authority terrorist kidnapping of three teenage boys but U.S. President Barack Obama has yet to say a word about the attack — even though one of the hostages is an American citizen.
The boys are students at the Makor Chaim yeshiva high school at Kfar Etzion in Gush Etzion. They were apparently abducted somewhere near the Judean town of Alon Shevut, about 15 minutes south of Jerusalem.
Palestinian Authority Unity Government Arabs starting passing out candies and other sweets in the streets of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, to celebrate the attack after hearing about the kidnapping.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird issued the statement Saturday night, strongly condemning the kidnapping and reminding the PA in no uncertain terms that its paramilitary forces were trained, equipped and armed by Canada and the U.S.
“Canada is deeply concerned by reports that three Israeli teenagers may have been kidnapped in the West Bank and condemns those aiming to instigate conflict.
“We urge the Palestinian security authorities, who have been trained through Canadian and U.S. leadership, to make every effort to investigate this incident and work diligently to ensure the safe return of these children to their families.
“We call for the immediate release of the three Israeli teenagers. Whoever has taken this action must be found and brought to justice,” Baird said.
While Canada was unequivocal in its public condemnation of the terror attack on the three innocent teens, Israel’s “best friend” — the United States — has remained silent on the issue. The White House has made no public statement whatsoever, and the State Department restricted itself to a phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Following is the transcript of the terse dialogue that took place between reporters and the State Department spokesperson as journalists tried to make sense of United States actions in the wake of the terrorist attack on the three boys Thursday night, especially given that one of kidnapped teens was an American citizen.
QUESTION: And last one, and this is in the Middle East. There’s reports coming out of the West Bank that there’s – three teens were kidnapped, and one of them is an American citizen. Do you have anything on that?
MS. HARF: We are aware – of course seen the reports, are very concerned for their well-being. The Secretary a short while ago expressed his concern in a meeting with Tzipi Livni in London and also has spoken with President Abbas this morning about it as well.
We are working with the Government of Israel and with the Palestinian Authority to try to ensure the situation is resolved quickly, and that the three teenagers are safely reunited with their families. I can’t confirm citizenship at this point.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Did you – the Israelis say that the Palestinian Authority has – is responsible for their –
MS. HARF: I don’t have a readout of those conversations.
QUESTION: No, no, no. I understand that, but the Israelis are holding – say that the PA is responsible for their – these – the safety of these three teenagers.
MS. HARF: Well –
QUESTION: Do you share that?
MS. HARF: What we know is the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority are working closely together on efforts to find the three teenagers and to hopefully bring a quick resolution to the matter, and of course giving this cooperation our full encouragement.
QUESTION: But you don’t think that the PA –
MS. HARF: I don’t have more. I don’t have anything more on this, Matt.
QUESTION: Okay, all right. The Israelis also say that they told Ambassador Shapiro, right?
MS. HARF: Yes, Ambassador Shapiro.
QUESTION: Ambassador Shapiro, yes – about the one who has American citizenship. Can you confirm if there was a conversation between him and the Israelis about one of the three, regardless of whether you can confirm –
MS. HARF: I’m sure Ambassador Shapiro has been in contact on this.
QUESTION: All right.
For the record, the Fatah faction led by Mahmoud Abbas — who heads the Palestinian Authority Unity Government — has called on shopkeepers in Judea and Samaria via its official Facebook page to destroy their CCTV security camera footage in order to sabotage the IDF’s efforts to rescue the kidnapped teenagers and hunt down the terrorists who attacked them.
If the United States believes that handing out sweets to celebrate the kidnapping of Jewish children by terrorists and destroying security film footage to foil their rescue is evidence of how the new Palestinian Authority Unity Government “works closely together” with the Israeli government to find and rescue the kidnapped teens, there’s a bridge for sale in Brooklyn. At a bargain price.
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A Petition has been set up calling for President Obama to demand the release of the kidnapped youths.
Click here to sign.
Click here for second petition with all three kidnapping victims named
Israel is always first to help other countries in need!!!!
You know, I must admit this is troubling. If a non-Jew were in such a situation, how many of us would care? If we don’t give a hoot if it were a goy, why should we expect a goy to care about us?
If, however, we are G-d’s chosen people, then based on that, they may have an obligation, much the same as the Secret Service has for big time political leaders.
You can’t have it both ways. Israel never commented when the Nigerians girls were kidnapped. So…..
Exactly! If a jew chas veshalim kidnapped an arab the world will go nuts, only when an israeli is kidnapped no one cares! Double standards! May G-d help return these boys home safely!
Kerry is so anti semitic. His statements were not even supportive. He didnt want to directly sat that Hamas is behind tge kidnapping when it is obvious. He said there is an indication that Hamas is behind the kidnapping. Kerry is anti Israel not pro Israel. He shouldnt be the one either commenting on the kidnappings, Obama should be the one to comment. Obamabhasnt commented yet at all. Michelle Obama hasnt either. Michelle Obama only commentes on the Nigerian kidnappings. What about Israel?? Clearly the Obamas are anti Israel!!!
So proud to be a Canadian!
So proud to be a Canadian!!!
R u surprised?
Very well said! Thanks.
Yes yes lovely to see how everybody is all of a sudden a super politician just sign both petitions and keep saying tehilim!
He condemned the incident in Boston, and then made a beer summit. He condemned a white guy in Fl shooting a black kid. The problem here is that the boys are not black and they were not kidnapped by whites. For the party who sees no color, things are pretty black and white to me. Btw, Kerry said the boys are missing. Like when someone gets lost on a hike or something. Best comment here: the one about he didn’t care about our own ppl in Benghazi, why care about Israel. He also won’t comment unless Israel retaliates by building.… Read more »
Yes, and if this is the way he has been conducting business from day one then that might hold water. However, our president has been putting the presidential nose into many foreign matters. Also, are you aware that the pres made a statement when he was first elected condemning SM Rubashkin- such opinion voicing by a president in such cases are unheard of. It seems the good pres picks and chooses his battles.
What if Israeli “price taggers” had kidnapped 3 Arab teenagers? The commotion and frenzy from one end of the world to the other would be deafening…
Even though it’s true that Obama is a coward and he should never have become president, at the end of the day Hashem is the one who can change it. Not Obama or anyone else, as a matter of a fact. There is obviously a reason why He chose this to happen, and all we could do is daven.
This article is very distorted and inaccurate. Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, put out a very strong statement. This is no different that the statement put out by Canada’s Foreign Minister (a position similar to Secretary of State in the U.S.). In short, the response by both countries was the same.
I am #7. Thank you for posting the link to the petition that includes ALL the boys, I just signed. COL PLEASE PUT THIS LINK IN THE ARTICLE TO REPLACE THE ONE FOR THE PETITION THAT ONLY INCLUDES ONE BOY.
You really think Obama has such deep animosity against Jews? I actually think he is pretty much devoid of any feelings- that is, for anyone except himself, his ridiculously overpampered family and his tight group of like-minded leftist cronies (at least the ones who don’t get in his way.) He certainly doesn’t seem to give a real hoot about the Americans who were killed in Benghazi, or other parts of the world…
May the boys be returned safely
Perhaps someone should also start a petition to Hashem demanding the geulah now. I am sure it has been done in the past but Moshiach is still not here.. The meraglim did not want a portion in Eretz Yisroel; now is a time to demand that the boys as well as all of us return to the true borders of Eretz Yisroel with Moshiach NOW!
The petition to the white house only mentions the American boy because that is the only person over whom the American government has jurisdiction. Unfortunately it’s not realistic to assume that America will even glance at a petition to help Jewish foreign citizens in a foreign country. I’m sure whoever initiated the petition was trying to achieve something that may have some slight chance of being acknowledged by present day government.
er iz b’chlal a garnisht. Why give any space to a garnisht?
it would be best to remove his Partziv from this site.
shame on col for giving him any “chashivus”.
It will be as Hashem wants it to be.. one thing is for sure Hashem wants our thillim and our good deeds!
May all our davening prevail and bring our boys home NOW!!!
ALONG WITH MOSHIACH’S ARRIVAL!!!!
What does anyone expect. He’s (Obama) is more concerned in getting in bed with Iran! He’s using Iraq as a reason to get closer. We need to admit this administration doesn’t like Jews. That’s all. His name is BARAK OBAMA – think about it. Stop voting for these left wing Jewish hating liberals, enough is enough!
You are absolutely correct. I refused to sign as well. A petition that throws 65 percent of the abductees under the bus is a disgrace. Hopefully the COL editor will replace the link with this one that includes all 3 of them;
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/use-all-means-necessary-facilitate-safe-return-3-abducted-teens-israel-including-one-american/wMtn95ww
Oh you didnt hear the president is on vacation in California. Hes been working to hard and “the bear had to get out of his hard working cave”. Im sure when he gets back he’ll say something……
It is a shame that the strongest world leader does not display any compassion or concern that three innocent boys were kidnaped. These are young children captured by cowards themselves to exploit ther own evil agenda and there is nothing said from the leader of the free world on this cruel act. It’s a shame that he does not display any courage or leadership against this immoral act . Praise to Canada who have the courage to stand up against this evil that has seen as just being accepted by President Obama. We should all pray for the safe return… Read more »
I believe that we hav to come out
with 1000 & more people if possible & say a speech &
pray in
front of the White House rite away
3 Jewish boys, even if one is an American, aren’t worth anything. If he didn’t care about his own Ambassador to Libya, why would you think he cares about a Jew?
Eileh barechev v’eileh basussim, veanachnu beshem Hashem Elokeinu nazkir.
horrible antisemite
Exactly!
Obama HATES Israel & by extention, the Jews, with a passion. Despite the PC commentators out there, it is clear that at the very least he has strong pro-Muslim sentiments. Ergo, he will support their efforts to get rid of Jews & Christians. So….They took 3 Jewish kids (one is a US citicen but he doesn’t care about that.) Well, for Obama, it’s a non issue. He is evil incarnate & yes, his heart is as black as Hitler’s ym’s. He is just too afraid to act. So far.
Pharaoh will soon fall when the Moshe of our generation-the true King- will be revealed—soon—G-d Willing,on Gimmel Tamuz.
..and Prime MInister Stephen Harper. Yet again, they show the world a clear moral value and strong leadership where there is little else around.
Also to be commended is the President of the Czech republic saying it like it is…
Nevertheless, as the Rebbe always said, a small flame can push away much darkness. We are reminded once again that we can only turn to HKB”H and not rely on anyone else…
all 3 boys will be helped! The website is only for US citizens, but when obama sees the support he will take a stand just like the Canadians have.
Please go back and sign.
Am yisrael chai l’olmei ad.
obama is a zero
I went to the petition site to sign but after I saw it only mentions ONE of the boys (the one who is a US citizen), I did not sign. I’m sure that boy would not want to be released while his friends are still captive.
POSTERS SHOULD BE OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Totally!
come on lets hashtag michelle to bring our boys home; or are they not our boys…
Canada is more pro israel, thank god for canada! Pray for the soldiers safe return!
Of course obamination wont say anything, the palestinians et al are his closest friends. He has always been on their side. Whats different now? Why would anyone expect any different response?
Chazal (Sota 11) reveal the reason for Iyov’s severe punishment. “Iyov sh’shoshak, nidon b’yisurim”- Iyov who remained silent, was punished with suffering