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President Biden delivered remarks from the Oval Workplace on Thursday on the wars between Israel and Hamas, and Ukraine and Russia. The next is a transcript of his remarks, as recorded by The New York Occasions.
Good night, my fellow People.
We’re dealing with an inflection level in historical past. A type of moments the place the selections we make at this time are going to find out the longer term for many years to return. That’s what I’d like to speak with you about tonight.
Now earlier this morning I returned from Israel. They inform me I’m the primary American president to journey there throughout a warfare. I met with the prime minister and members of his cupboard, and most movingly, I met with Israelis who had personally lived via the horrific horror of the assault by Hamas on the seventh of October. Greater than 1,300 individuals slaughtered in Israel, together with not less than 32 Americans. Scores of innocents from infants to the aged, grandparents, Israelis, People taken hostage. As I instructed the households of People being held captive by Hamas, we’re pursuing each avenue to deliver their family members residence. As president, there is no such thing as a increased precedence for me than the protection of People held hostage.
The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure unadulterated evil on the planet, however sadly, the Jewish individuals know, maybe higher than anybody, that there is no such thing as a restrict to the depravity of individuals once they wish to inflict ache on others.
In Israel, I noticed a people who find themselves robust, decided, resilient and in addition offended, in shock and in deep, deep ache. I additionally spoke with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority, and reiterated that the USA stays dedicated to the Palestinian individuals’s proper to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don’t take that immediately.
Like so many others, I’m heartbroken by the tragic lack of Palestinian life, together with the explosion on the hospital in Gaza, which was not executed by the Israelis. We mourn each harmless life misplaced. We will’t ignore the humanity of harmless Palestinians who solely wish to stay in peace and have a chance.
You recognize, the assault on Israel echoes almost 20 months of warfare, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the individuals of Ukraine, folks that had been very badly damage since Putin launched his all-out invasion.
We’ve not forgotten the mass graves, the our bodies discovered bearing indicators of torture, rape used as a weapon by the Russians, and hundreds and hundreds of Ukrainian kids forcibly taken into Russia, stolen from their mother and father.
It’s sick.
Hamas and Putin signify completely different threats, however they share this in frequent. They each wish to fully annihilate a neighboring democracy — fully annihilate it. Hamas’ acknowledged goal for current is the destruction of the state of Israel and the homicide of Jewish individuals. Hamas doesn’t signify the Palestinian individuals. Hamas makes use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, and harmless Palestinian households are struggling drastically due to them.
In the meantime, Putin denies Ukraine has, or ever had, actual statehood. He claims the Soviet Union created Ukraine. And simply two weeks in the past, he instructed the world that if the USA and our allies withdraw — and if the USA withdraws, our allies will as nicely — navy help for Ukraine would have, quote, per week left to stay.
However we’re not withdrawing.
I do know these conflicts can appear far-off, and it’s pure to ask: Why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why ensuring Israel and Ukraine succeed is important for America’s nationwide safety.
You recognize, historical past has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a value for his or her terror, when dictators don’t pay a value for his or her aggression, they trigger extra chaos and dying and extra destruction. They maintain going. And the price and the threats to America and the world maintain rising.
So if we don’t cease Putin’s urge for food for energy and management in Ukraine, he gained’t restrict himself simply to Ukraine. He’s — Putin’s already threatened to remind, quote, remind Poland that their western land was a present from Russia. One in all his prime advisers, a former president of Russia, has referred to as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Russia’s Baltic provinces.
These are all NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has stored peace in Europe. And has been the cornerstone of American safety. And if Putin assaults a NATO ally, we are going to defend each inch of NATO, which a treaty requires and requires.
We’ll have one thing that we don’t search. Make it clear — we don’t search — we don’t search to have American troops preventing in Russia or preventing in opposition to Russia.
Past Europe, we all know that our allies, and possibly most significantly our adversaries and rivals, are watching. They’re watching our response in Ukraine as nicely. And if we stroll away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors all over the world can be emboldened to strive the identical. The chance of battle and chaos might unfold in different elements of the world: within the Indo-Pacific, within the Center East, particularly within the Center East. Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, and it’s supporting Hamas and different terrorist teams within the area. And we’ll proceed to carry them accountable, I’d add.
America and our companions throughout the area are working to construct a greater future for the Center East. One the place the Center East is extra steady, higher related to its neighbors, and thru progressive tasks just like the India, Center East and Europe rail hall that I introduced this yr on the summit of the world’s greatest economies, extra predictable markets, extra employment, much less rage, much less grievances, much less warfare when related. It advantages the individuals. It could profit the individuals of the Center East, and it will profit us.
American management is what holds the world collectively. American alliances are what maintain us, America, secure. American values are what make us a companion that different nations wish to work with. To place all that in danger if we stroll away from Ukraine, if we flip our backs on Israel, it’s simply not value it.
That’s why tomorrow I’m going to ship to Congress an pressing finances request to fund America’s nationwide safety wants, to help our important companions, together with Israel and Ukraine. It’s a sensible funding that’s going pay dividends for American safety for generations, assist us maintain American troops out of hurt’s approach, assist us construct a world that’s safer, extra peaceable and extra affluent for our youngsters and grandchildren.
In Israel, we should guarantee that they’ve what they should defend their individuals at this time and all the time. The safety bundle I’m sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented dedication to Israel’s safety that may sharpen Israel’s qualitative navy edge, which we’ve dedicated to: the qualitative navy edge. We’re going make sure that Iron Dome continues to protect the skies over Israel. We’re going to ensure different hostile actors within the area know that Israel’s stronger than ever and forestall this battle from spreading.
Look, on the similar time, President Netanyahu and I mentioned once more, yesterday, the important want for Israel to function by the legal guidelines of warfare. Which means defending civilians in fight as finest as they’ll. The individuals of Gaza urgently want meals, water and drugs.
Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an settlement for the primary cargo of humanitarian help from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas doesn’t divert or steal this cargo, these shipments, we’re going to supply a gap for sustained supply of lifesaving humanitarian help for the Palestinians.
As I mentioned in Israel, as laborious as it’s, we can’t quit on peace. We can’t quit on a two-state resolution.
Israel and Palestinians equally should stay in security, dignity and peace.
You recognize, and right here at residence we have now to be sincere with ourselves. Lately, an excessive amount of hate has given an excessive amount of oxygen, fueling racism, an increase in antisemitism, Islamic-phobia, proper right here in America.
It’s additionally intensified within the wake of latest occasions that led to the horrific threats and assaults that each shock us and break our hearts.
On Oct. 7, terror assaults have triggered deep scars and horrible reminiscences within the Jewish neighborhood. As we speak, Jewish households apprehensive about being focused in class, carrying symbols of their religion strolling down the road, or going out about their day by day lives. And I do know lots of you within the Muslim American neighborhood, the Arab American neighborhood, the Palestinian American neighborhood and so many others are outraged and hardened saying to yourselves, “Right here we go once more with Islamophobia and the mistrust we noticed after 9/11.”
Simply final week, a mom was brutally stabbed. Just a little boy right here in the USA, slightly boy who simply turned 6 years outdated, was murdered of their residence outdoors of Chicago. His identify was Wadea. Wadea, a proud American, a proud Palestinian American household.
We will’t stand by and stand silent when this occurs. We should with out equivocation denounce antisemitism. We should additionally with out equivocation denounce Islamophobia.
And to all you hurting, these of you who’re hurting, I need you to know I see you. You belong. And I wish to say this to you: You’re all America. You’re all America.
That is in a second the place — you recognize, in moments like these, when concern and suspicion, anger and rage run laborious — that we have now to work more durable than ever to carry on to the values that make us who we’re. We’re a nation of non secular freedom, freedom of expression. All of us have a proper to debate and disagree, with out concern of being focused in colleges or workplaces or in our communities.
We should surrender violence and vitriol, see one another not as enemies, however as fellow People.
After I was in Israel yesterday, I mentioned that when America skilled the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as nicely, and whereas we sought and acquired justice, we made errors. So I warning the federal government of Israel to not be blinded by rage.
And right here in America, allow us to not neglect who we’re. We reject all types, all types of hate, whether or not in opposition to Muslims, Jews, or anybody. That’s what nice nations do. And we’re an amazing nation.
On Ukraine, I’m asking Congress to ensure we are able to proceed to ship Ukraine the weapons they should defend themselves and their nation with out interruption, so Ukraine can cease Putin’s brutality in Ukraine.
They’re succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Properly over a yr later, Putin has failed, and he continues to fail.
Kyiv nonetheless stands as a result of the bravery of the Ukrainian individuals. Ukraine has regained greater than 50 % of the territory Russian troops as soon as occupied. Backed by U.S.-led coalition of greater than 50 international locations all over the world, all doing its half to help Kyiv.
What would occur if we walked away? We’re the important nation.
In the meantime, Putin has turned to Iran and North Korea to purchase assault drones and ammunition to terrorize Ukrainian cities and folks.
From the outset, I’ve mentioned I can’t ship American troops to battle in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is assist, for the weapons, munitions, the capability, the potential to push invading Russian forces off their land. And the air protection techniques to shoot down Russian missiles earlier than they destroy Ukrainian cities.
Let me be clear about one thing.
We ship Ukraine tools sitting in our stockpiles. And after we use the cash allotted by Congress, we use it to replenish our personal shops, our personal stockpiles, with new tools. Gear that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air protection batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states throughout the nation, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. And a lot extra.
You recognize, simply as in World Struggle II, at this time patriotic American employees are constructing the arsenal of democracy and serving the reason for freedom.
Let me shut with this:
Earlier this yr, I boarded Air Pressure One for a secret flight to Poland. There I boarded a practice, with blacked-out home windows for a 10-hour trip every option to Kyiv to face with the individuals of Ukraine forward of the one-year anniversary of their courageous battle in opposition to Putin. I’m instructed I used to be the primary American to enter a warfare zone not managed by the USA navy since President Lincoln.
With me was only a small group of safety personnel and some advisers. However once I exited that practice and met Zelensky, President Zelensky, I didn’t really feel alone. I used to be bringing with me the concept of America, the promise of America, to the people who find themselves at this time preventing for a similar issues we fought for 250 years in the past: freedom, independence, self-determination. And as I walked via Kyiv with President Zelensky, with air raid sirens sounding within the distance, I felt one thing I’ve all the time believed extra strongly than ever earlier than: America is a beacon to the world, nonetheless, nonetheless.
We’re, as my buddy Madeleine Albright mentioned, the indispensable nation.
Tonight, there are harmless individuals all around the world who hope due to us. Who consider in a greater life due to us. Who’re determined to not be forgotten by us. And who’re ready for us.
However time is of the essence.
I do know we have now our divisions at residence. We’ve to get previous them. We will’t let petty, partisan, offended politics get in the best way of our obligations as an amazing nation. We can’t and won’t let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that occur.
In moments like these, we have now to remind — we have now to recollect who we’re. We’re the USA of America. America of America. And there may be nothing, nothing past our capability, if we do it collectively.
My fellow People, thanks to your time. Could God bless you all, and should God defend our troops.
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