New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has issued an apology days after stepping in it, during a speech in which she defended Israel’s right to exist. During a speech at the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, the governor ignited a flurry of criticism after making a hilariously flawed analogy while discussing Israel’s effort to eradicate the terrorist group Hamas.
As Hochul addressed the audience, she emphasized that Israel’s mission to eliminate Hamas as a threat is a justified endeavor. “Call out Hamas for what it is, and it is a terrorist organization that must be stopped,” she said. “No one, no country should live with that threat, that specter over them.”
If she had stopped right there, everything would have been fine. Instead, she continued with an analogy that would make most people cringe. She said:
For those who don't understand this dynamic here in our own state, in our own country, I'll give you an example. I'm from Buffalo. Anybody realize that? If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I'm sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right? I love Canada, but we did have the War of 1812, and they did burn Buffalo, so there might be a little conflict here. But think about that. That is a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again. And that is Israel's right.
Kathy Hochul makes bizarre analogy when defending Israel's right to defend itself.
— Jeff Charles, An Awful Pundit🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) February 19, 2024
"If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I'm sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right?" pic.twitter.com/MKqz6GooBR
Whoops.
There is nothing wrong with an elected official affirming that Hamas must be obliterated, and that Israel has a right to defend itself. But raising a scenario in which we go to war with Canada and basically annihilate the country was a bit much. After all, why should anyone consider destroying the nation that produced ice hockey, maple syrup, and Bryan Adams?
In a written statement on Friday, Hochul issued an apology that was published in the New York Times. But she didn’t just apologize for her Canada analogy, she also apologized for not also acknowledging the plight of the Palestinians living in Gaza.
In a statement provided to The New York Times on Friday night, after the speech began circulating on social media, Ms. Hochul said that she regretted her “inappropriate analogy.” She apologized for her “poor choice of words.”
“While I have been clear in my support of Israel’s right to self-defense, I have also repeatedly said and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided and that more humanitarian aid must go to the people of Gaza,” she said.
Hochul’s gaffe and subsequent apology come as the war in Gaza continues to heat up. Israel’s military remains on the ground in its effort to eliminate Hamas. Israeli special forces recently raided Gaza’s Nasser hospital after finding out that the remains of some of the hostages taken by Hamas were located in the building. The Biden administration and the United Nations have been pressuring Israel’s government to ease up on its attacks against Hamas, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stayed the course.
The furor over Hochul’s comments reflect the fiery debate that has occurred in the U.S. ever since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
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