By Andrew L. Jaffee

While this is old news, it is important to remember what President-elect Barack Obama said in July about the Jewish State’s right to self-defense — especially in light of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’ current rain of mortars and rockets on southern Israel, and Israel’s response. From the Wall Street Journal:

Israel’s air assault on Gaza in response to Hamas rocket attacks is inspiring familiar international denunciations. But the best commentary we’ve heard might be this one: “If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do everything to stop that, and would expect Israel to do the same thing.” …

… Barack Obama said those words in July while visiting Israel as a Presidential candidate.

Now as President-elect, Mr. Obama is maintaining an appropriate silence while deferring to the Bush Administration before his Inauguration. But his July remarks capture the essence of Israel’s right to self-defense. Moreover, the more successful Israel is this week in damaging Hamas as a terrorist force, the better chance Mr. Obama will have to make progress in facilitating a genuine Mideast peace. …

Let us hope he meant what he said, and having children himself, truly identified with Israeli citizens’ fear for their lives and for their own sons’ and daughters’ safety. Despite my previous reservations, I believe that Obama will be a staunch ally of Israel.