Pelosi Declines To Denounce Gaza Blockade

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when questioned about the Gaza blockade on Wednesday, refused to denounce it but expressed her regret over the Israeli raid on the flotilla, calling for an independent investigation of the incident.

"I appreciate what you are saying, that people are suffering from different physical challenges because of the blockade," Pelosi said on a conference call Tuesday, in response to a question from blogger Mike Stark. "I know that blockades have consequences. And, again, we all saw this in real time because everyone has a camera and I think that people make a case on either side as to who was provocative and who was not. But the fact is, this is a terribly regrettable situation. I regret the loss of life first and foremost and again call for a credible and transparent investigation to find out how this came to be."

When questioned about the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Pelosi's restrained response mirrored that of Obama, who placed no blame on Tuesday when he called the situation "deeply regrettable."

"There is a very strong interest in getting the facts," said Pelosi. "A transparent and credible investigation is what people are calling for -- that's what the White House has mentioned and that's what I support as well. We have to have the facts on which to make a judgment about how to go forward."

Protesters in Chicago and elsewhere have denounced the raid, which was conducted in international waters and is the subject of global outrage. More than 2,000 protesters gathered in downtown Chicago Tuesday night, waving Palestinian flags along with signs calling for an end to Israeli occupation.

Pelosi said the United States's response must also take Israel's role as a national security partner into consideration.

"Israel is our friend... I think with Israel we have a very close friendship and to have a Democratic Jewish state in that region is something that has been a goal of our foreign policy. It is something that is based on our national security interest; it is about us as much -- even more -- than it is about them. We all -- many of us here -- are striving for a two-state solution... But it has to be a solution where there is security for both sides. And hopefully President Obama will be able to use his good offices to achieve such a goal that has been bipartisan in support in Congress. But again, I believe that the specialness of our relationship with Israel has as much to do with our own national security as it does with theirs."

Comments

[Jefferson78]

10:42 PM on 06/30/2010

One of the very few things Ms. Pelosi has done right. The US must support Israel and its right to stand up to terrorists.

[dlo2]

07:35 AM on 06/17/2010

There must be a change in US oversight over Israel that must include the review of funds or preferential loans that occur. The Senate International Appropriations Committee needs voter input to steer where US taxpayer monies will be utilized by Israel.

[chap009]

06:25 AM on 06/10/2010

Pelosi refuses to condemn the blockade, but so what? Name a Democrat or Republican who has the courage to condemn Israel for egregious violations of human rights. But, the tide of US public opinion is turning against Israel-at last.

[Schmeng]

06:49 PM on 06/08/2010

Talking of distracting from the truth; wasn't it the day that Obama was sworn in last december when Israel bombed Lebanon? I remember it was interesting timing. not much news coverage because of that. anyone rememeber?

[Kurt Pferdeort]

09:27 PM on 06/04/2010

Way to be a weasel Nancy. Stay classy.

Our idiotic reflexive support of Israel, no matter how heinous her actions, are the reason Muslims are angry at us. It's time to end it. Israel has a right to exist. Israel does not have a right to continue the reckless slaughtering of Palestinians and humanitarian aid workers.

[Wisdo]

07:37 PM on 06/04/2010

"for a credible and transparent investigation to find out how this came to be."

Okay and AFTER the credible and transparant investigation STILL SHOWS that Israel killed 9 unarmed civilians in international waters for trying to bring food and clothing to people under an illegal siege, THEN WHAT PELOSI?

[atlantis1star]

12:39 PM on 06/04/2010

"It is something that is based on our national security interest;"

Israel is the reason America is hated in the world.

That is your National Security position?

[pomegrante]

12:35 PM on 06/04/2010

29bela, surely the Israel gov has something(s) so shocking to inform the American people is why our leaders are so imbedded in Israel's backside. (Hint: 9/11,etc..?)

[Caromia]

03:56 AM on 06/04/2010

Well gosh darn; the Senator seems to favor answering to the People of Israel rather than to her American constituency...
.
The interest of America are best served when policy isn't made with dollars and religious preferences.

[Anbreen]

10:45 AM on 06/06/2010

She has 83,000 reasons to say what she said. ($$$)

[Caromia]

11:33 PM on 06/03/2010

Pelosi would probably blame the Captain of the USS Liberty for being in International Waters.
.
Increasingly, the blind acceptance of Evil as 'justified' is becoming her motto.

[Grace68]

05:07 PM on 06/03/2010

How much does Nancy get from AIPAC? Apparently she is working overtime for them.

[Anbreen]

10:44 AM on 06/06/2010

She got $83,000 and change.

[EspressoAtNoon]

05:07 PM on 06/03/2010

An American citizen was killed in that act of piracy, but Nancy -- low and behold -- stands with Israel. Shameful!

[Anbreen]

10:46 AM on 06/06/2010

Remember, this is the babe whose first words in office were, "Impeachment of Bush is off the table."

[Anbreen]

10:52 AM on 06/06/2010

The Palestinians are the natives of Palestine, which has been around for at LEAST a millenium. Some of us have the maps, the money, some govt documents, the stamps, etc.

The Zionist founder of the state of Israel were mainly from Poland and Russia.

And, here's what they have been doing to the natives:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/.a/6a00d83451c45669e20120a92772f6970b-popup

[biwee]

05:03 PM on 06/03/2010

What do you know about Pelosi's husband?????

[Err1c0]

04:40 PM on 06/03/2010

How long are we going to allow our representatives look the other way? Intercepting a vessel in the high seas with violence is piracy!

It is piracy perpetrated by a state which has been occupying and creating "facts on the ground" since 1967. We did not afford Saddam Hussein the same time to free Kuwait, did we not?

Lastly and the worst part, that shoot first, explain later mentality, is subsidized by us, the poor American taxpayer, to the tune of billions of dollars every year.

[BraveWarrior]

05:15 PM on 06/03/2010

It is surprising that the US did not demand, or request that N.Korea conduct a transparent investigation into the attack(?) on the SK warship. Somehow every veto we use to defend Israel is never mentioned or expected to cause other countries to do likewise. We call countries who refuse our demands on Iran, irresponsible. It should not surprise anyone that we share the same attitude with Israel about killing unarmed civilians. We apologize, but the next day we do it again and again. Now a UN human rights organization is criticizing our drone attacks as we become increasingly isolated, diplomatically. The loss of prestige, respect and credibility to Israel is going to be shared by the US. Israel has likely lost a former ally in Turkey. America's position could seriously undermine the NATO. If the Turks send warships to accompany civilian fleets of blockade busters, and there is an attack or battle at sea, all NATO members, including the US are required by treaty to come to the others defense. The US news blackout, except for Israeli propaganda leaves only Americans ignorant of the serious situation. It is obvious and self destructive to the credibility of the media, especially with such a multitude of news sites on the web.

[29bela]

10:43 PM on 06/03/2010

I really wonder why they are holdings us hostage, what is behind it? Atomic war threat? It must be something very serious. David versus Goliath? We should let our government know that we will undestand just let us know. Threat is strong only because secrecy behind it.

[EricEFNY]

04:06 PM on 06/03/2010

On the history front..a bit of background information might be useful. Who are the Palestinians?

Prior to WWI it was a loosely defined geographical region under the control of the Ottoman Empire of which encouraged migration of large groups of Jews to the major cities there in the late 1800's. Those cities were falling into disrepair and the Empire did not have sufficient funding to maintain them.

Palestine comes from the word Philistines...Other than that is was a region under various governance. The Ottoman Empire was the government there for 400 years prior to the British Mandate after the Ottomans sided with Germany in WWI.

This geographical region wasn't close to being a nation state for more than 2000 years. The geographical region (AKA "Palestine") included what are now parts of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Ethnic cleansing you say? Arabs (Muslims and Christians) still live in Israel as well as Jordan and Syria. Palestinians are Arabs; Jews; Christian Semites.

Better ask yourself..just who are the Palestinians?