The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has expressed criticism over the Obama Administration’s “naive endorsement” of the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Mohammed Morsi’s Egyptian regime and its failure to condemn vile anti-Semitic statements by Morsi.
At a joint ceremony in Cairo to mark the delivery of the warplanes, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Anne W. Patterson said, “Today’s ceremony demonstrates the firm belief of the United States that a strong Egypt is in the interest of the U.S., the region, and the world … We look to Egypt to continue to serve as a force for peace, security, and leadership as the Middle East proceeds with its challenging yet essential journey toward democracy … The United States has long recognized Egypt as an indispensible [sic] partner.”
ZOA National Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Goldblatt said, “The ZOA criticized this arms transfer immediately it was announced – for good reason: there is a new regime in Egypt since last year, backed by the extremist, Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, yet President Obama has chosen to send arms under an agreement concluded in 2010 when the Mubarak regime was in power.
“Who are the likely future targets of this Egyptian weaponry? Iran? Syria? Or is it Israel? The ZOA believes that the answer is obvious.
“It is extraordinary and surreal that, only days after Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi is shown to be a guttersnipe anti-Semite of the worst kind, President Obama would approve the dispatch of weaponry to Cairo. It is no less remarkable that Ambassador Patterson would speak of Egypt’s ‘essential journey towards democracy,’ when it is clear Egypt is becoming a hostile, Islamist dictatorship.”
Goldblatt added, Ambassador Patterson’s speech in Cairo suggests that the Obama Administration has not got a clue about the nature of the Morsi regime, the Muslim Brotherhood or their malign intentions towards Israel and the U.S.. These words will one day come back to bite the Obama.”