Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rep. King: Obama to Blame for Gaza Flotilla Clash
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 8, 2010
Modified Jun 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 8, 2010
Modified Jun 8, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Some people may think that the latest escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complicated and nuanced, but for Rep. Peter King, Republican from Long Island, knows better: it's all Obama's fault. "I believe that the Obama administration's foreign policy is responsible for what happened with the flotilla," King tells CBS, referring to the civilian deaths aboard a ship carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. So now King is introducing a resolution to force the president to militarily support Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
King’s resolution would authorize the U.S. to provide Israel with necessary weapons and supplies to enforce the Gaza blockade, and would pressure the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council. In addition, the resolution will demand that Obama oppose any international effort to investigate Israel for last week’s enforcement of the blockade. Appearing on Fox News, King explained why the U.S. shouldn't investigate the Israeli raid that left nine peace activists dead:
Their blockade is entirely justified by international law. And by having this investigation we are setting up a moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas. Israel is under seige. It has had thousands of missiles fired into it from Gaza. This would be as if we allowed the UN to investigate the U.S. when we blockaded Cuba in 1962... As an ally we should be saying this blockade is absolutely right... and no U.S. taxpayer dollar should be used for this investigation.
When asked why he wants the U.S. off the UN Human Rights Council, King explained, "It is strictly a pro-third world, anti-American council. It's hypocritical, it never condemns what's done against Israel, it only condemns Israel, and by us being on it we're giving it a respectability it doesn't deserve. " Because when it comes to human rights, our reputation is just so respectable!
Tagged
blockade
flotilla
gaza
israel
obama
peter king
united nations
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail
Victor Romero, who retired from the police department in 2001
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 10:25 a.m. ET
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
New data shows suicide taking an outsize toll among Latino New Yorkers, even as overall deaths fell.
By
Jill Webb
News
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
New data shows suicide taking an outsize toll among Latino New Yorkers, even as overall deaths fell.
By
Jill Webb
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
By
Samuel King
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
By
Arya Sundaram
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
By
Arya Sundaram
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .