Bill Maher criticizes Barack Obama's 'moral equivalency' stance on Israel-Hamas conflict, Internet agrees
WASHINGTON, DC: 'Real Time' host Bill Maher criticized former President Barack Obama's remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict during a panel discussion on Friday, November 10.
Maher expressed disappointment, accusing Obama of promoting "moral equivalency" between Israel and Hamas.
The 44th president asserted that "all of us are complicit" during a recent discussion with 'Pod Save America.'
"What Hamas did was horrific, and there is no justification for it. And what is also true is that the occupation, and what’s happening to Palestinians, is unbearable," Obama said. "If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth. And then you have to admit nobody's hands are clean, that all of us are complicit to some degree."
Critique of Obama's 'complicit' statement
Maher in response to Obama's statement said, "I must say I am struggling with people's moral equivalency still, I mean, Barack Obama, who has rarely disappointed me, did so this week… His statement, I mean, it's not a horrible statement, but he said, 'If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth and then you have to admit nobody's hands are clean.' Literally, that's true, of course. But just giving two examples where this is I don't think a helpful statement at this moment."
Maher pointed out the recency of the October 7 attack, stating, "First of all, the attack was only a month ago. A more savage attack than we've ever seen in reverse. There's a big difference between collateral damage and what Hamas did."
He continued, "Secondly, the Israelis are now on the four-hour pause for people to get out. So people say ‘Oh, wow, how big of them.’ Ok, but it is a war that the other side started! It's so interesting. When they fired [at] Israel. It's a war. When Israel fires back, it's a war crime. Little crazy… Also, would Hamas do that? Would they give four-hour pauses? No, no pausing."
"And then Israel's heritage minister was asked in an interview about using a nuke on Gaza. And he said 'That's one of the possibilities.' He was fired, not allowed in the Cabinet meeting anymore, and disavowed by the Prime Minister. Would that happen in reverse? So enough with the moral equivalencies, please," he added.
As reported by Fox News, the comedian reminded the panel to not forget the "Islamic fanaticism" part of Hamas "because you're not supposed to talk about that anymore because if you do, even how realistic it is, it becomes Islamophobic."
"But it's true!" Maher explained. "The people in Hamas who kill their own people think they're doing them a favor because they're becoming martyrs. That's a different kind of situation to have to deal with that Israel has that most people don't."
Maher also addressed an open letter signed by over 750 journalists advocating for terms like "apartheid" and "genocide" to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"They couldn't be more pro-Hamas," he declared. "They say they want the newsroom to adopt words such as ‘apartheid.’ I hear it all the time anyway, It's wrong. And I hear ‘genocide.’ Again, wrong. Israel is not trying to commit genocide. The other side- blatantly saying we would love to commit genocide on you."
Social media reactions
Social media was inundated with a barrage of reactions to Maher's comments.
"One of the few times I wholeheartedly agree with Bill Maher," one posted on X.
"Obama is a disgrace!" another wrote.
"Obama's actions increasingly erode his reputation," someone else added.
"Took him this long to be disappointed with Obama??" another wondered.
One of the few times I wholeheartedly agree with Bill Maher.
— magellan (@magellan1910123) November 11, 2023