Wyden criticizes Netanyahu but sidesteps question about his own repeated votes to fund bombing

Presenter: Sen. Ron Wyden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he did not explain why he continues to vote in support of shipping weapons used to bomb Gaza. At the senator’s town hall in North Bend May 24, KEPW’s Todd Boyle asked the last question:

Todd Boyle: Well, this is going to be hard. This is a hard subject. But as you know, Israel has been bombing Gaza over a year and a half, and it’s something on the order of 100,000, mostly, almost entirely civilians, have been killed, in addition to so many injured. And so I guess there are six or seven laws, domestic laws, against the shipping of weapons to countries that are violating humanitarian law and all.

[00:00:44] But I do want to ask the question since Sen. Wyden, you have voted in favor of these shipments every time. And I’d like to ask you why.

[00:00:56] Presenter: At the town hall in the middle school gym, Sen. Ron Wyden:

[00:01:00] Sen. Ron Wyden: You’re absolutely right to point out the horrifying losses in that region, number one.

[00:01:07] Number two, I strongly disagree with Bibi Netanyahu and what he’s doing there. I know his idea for the resort area is outrageous.

[00:01:22] And what I am trying to do—and I’d be happy to work with you and other activists because I know your views are heartfelt—is to try to find a way to get some measure of justice to the region.

[00:01:37] And I’m trying to take another crack at a two-state solution, because I think what we’re dealing with there is an inability to find something that makes a Palestinian mom and an Israeli mom come together so that we can figure out, you know, a path, you know, forward.

[00:01:58] And the tragedy is—the tragedy is, what did we see a couple of nights ago in (Washington) D.C.? A young couple who apparently (I know only when I read in the press and stuff) that was completely dedicated to the kind of thing you’re talking about, bringing people together—were shot and murdered.

[00:02:22] And we’re better than this. Everybody in America is better than this.

[00:02:27] So if this is the last question, I want to just use my time on commenting that you’re talking about an issue that goes right to the heart of American values, and that is to show that we’re better than these horrible accounts that we see on television. And I, as a Jew, and as your senior senator, I’m committed to bringing people together, whether it’s two-state solutions, policies that break from Bibi Netanyahu, to find the common ground that gives them the justice that you are so right to talk about. Thank you.

[00:03:03] Protester: So are you still voting for bombs?

[00:03:05] Presenter: Protesters began chanting as the town hall ended, with one calling Wyden a murderer of small children.

[00:03:12] Protesters: (Chanting) Stop bombing Gaza, stop funding Israel!

[00:03:26] Wyden Town Hall moderator: I want to say thank you so much for everything, everybody being here today, and I will go ahead and see if the senator has any closing words or if we should go ahead and see. All right, thank you everybody for coming today, I appreciate it. Thanks so much for being here, and I wish you a great day, and have a wonderful night.

[00:03:51] Presenter: Protesters erupt at a North Bend town hall. Sen. Ron Wyden criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but does not answer Todd Boyle’s question: Why does the senator continue to vote to give Israel U.S. bombs, given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?

[00:04:08] For more, see Todd Boyle’s YouTube channel and keep listening to Whole Community News on KEPW 97.3, Eugene’s PeaceWorks community radio.