Ron Paul: Gaza violence fueled by US favoritism toward Israel

By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/26/12 01:58 PM ET

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) on Monday blamed U.S. foreign policy — which he said favors Israel over other entities in the Middle East — for the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.

"U.S. foreign policy being so one-sided actually results in more loss of life and of security on both sides," Paul said. "Surely Israelis do not enjoy the threat of missiles from Gaza nor do the Palestinians enjoy their Israel-imposed inhuman conditions in Gaza.

"But as long as Israel can count on its destructive policies being underwritten by the U.S. taxpayer it can continue to engage in reckless behavior. And as long as the Palestinians feel the one-sided U.S. presence lined up against them they will continue to resort to more and more deadly and desperate measures."

Paul said he was glad for the recent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas but that no lasting change to the region would come until the U.S. develops a more neutral foreign policy. Paul said President George W. Bush justified Israeli attacks against Hamas years ago and President Obama has made the same decision in the last few weeks.

And he said Obama's claim that no country should suffer rocket attacks from anyone else rang hollow because Obama himself has engaged in bombing campaigns around the world.

"The U.S. supported the Israeli side because, [Obama] said, 'No country on Earth would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,' " Paul said. "Considering that this president rains down missiles on Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and numerous other countries on a daily basis, the statement was so hypocritical that it didn't pass the laugh test."

Paul added that U.S. favoritism toward Israel was seen in the decision of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to meet with Israel but not with Palestinian leaders. "Does this sound like an honest broker?" he asked of the United States.

Clinton met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last week to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement, but did not speak to representatives of Hamas, which the U.S. labels a terrorist group.

Paul also took issue as well with House passage of a pro-Israel resolution last week, which he said was introduced quickly and passed before most members knew it was happening or could read the resolution.

"The resolution, H. Res. 813, was so one-sided it is not surprising they didn't want anyone to have the chance to read and vote on it," Paul said. "Surely at least a handful of my colleagues would have objected to language like, 'The House of Representatives expresses unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders.'"

This story was updated at 2:34 p.m.