Batchelor [pictured above] spoke about the current U.S. administration's foreign policy and the need to destroy the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian Authority.
Immediately following the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, Batchelor launched his radio talk show on WABC. He has since been providing commentary on a wide range of subjects including the war on terrorism, the presidency, and U.S and global economies. Batchelor travels the world, broadcasting his show live from many locations in the hotbed of terrorist activity. He has made several visits to Israel in this framework.
After his Wednesday night show, Batchelor joined Arutz-7's Yedidya Atlas for an interview on IsraelNationalRadio.com. Batchelor said that Israel and the United States are lacking determination to destroy terrorism.
"Since August," he said, "I have seen a marked deterioration of the security conditions in Israel and the security operations of the United States of America in Iraq. I think the enemy is confident, aggressive and now believes that radical attacks produce results. They believe that the West, the U.S. and Europe [do not have] the stomach to oppress the attack, and that strengthens the enemy," Batchelor stated.
ABC's John Batchelor (right) and IsraelNationalRadio's Yedidya Atlas in Bet El studio
Batchelor said that his stance against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Disengagement has not changed since he broadcast live from Gush Katif this summer, just days before the withdrawal took place. "I am surprised that the understanding that it would fail wasn’t commonplace," he said. "It was clear from the moment the Sharon government announced a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, without conditions, that the Palestinian Authority and the people of the various terrorist organizations regarded this as a victory. They were rewarded for their years of murder by the grant of territory from a defeated Israel. They would now like to press that condition onto the West Bank."
"What’s happened since then is that Likud and Labor leadership have collapsed, and Israel’s leadership is now in crisis. In any event, Gaza is proof that non-negotiation and aggression are rewarded," said Batchelor.
According to Batchelor, U.S. President George Bush's support of Disengagement is not in line with his administration’s foreign policy position regarding the war against terrorism. "I don’t make national policy. I do look at the fact the President has not explained, because it cannot be explained, his non-policy in Gaza at the same time he is pressing for democracy in Iraq, with troops, with money and with allies. Why not bring the same democracy to Gaza, in the same fashion that it was brought it to the people of Iraq. That means coalition forces, troops on the ground and not just an arrest but a destruction of the Palestinian terror organization."
"As I understand it," the broadcaster continued, "George Bush and Dr. Condoleeza Rice believe that settlement with the Palestinians - whatever that means - will please their European allies. Those allies and the United Nations are critical as we go forward against Iran, North Korea and Syria. In their minds we'll find a settlement in Gaza, and that will please everyone in Europe and then they will join us in our common quest to end the tyranny in Teheran. It’s a fool's mission; you cannot separate these matters. The tyranny in Teheran certainly understands that to attack the U.S., what they need to do is kill five innocent Israeli citizens in Netanya and that’s their attack on the U.S. But apparently the U.S. doesn’t acknowledge that connection."
"Gaza is connected to Ramallah and Syria; certainly they are connected to the Syrian-backed gangs in Southern Lebanon. All of these things are in front of us, we can see them. Why the administration pretends not to is a mystery," Batchelor questioned.
Batchelor criticized the hypocritical stance of the PA which claims to fight terrorism, while many members of its government openly support terrorist activity. "The game that Arafat invented, which is 'I denounce terrorism, I denounce all terrorists' is tiresome. The PA has no power in the Gaza Strip; the only power it possibly may have is in Ramallah because of the money it gets from Europe. It’s a shakedown operation. They shake down Europe: 'You give us money and we'll continue not to negotiate with the Israelis.' That will prevent the Americans from their grand theory of progress against Iran," Batchelor explained.
"I think the PA is a failure. I don’t think we have to debate it anymore. I don’t see any point in us pretending there is something there. Abbas, Erekat and the rest of them -they’re old, they’re tired and they’re corrupt. If this were the U.S. they’d all be in jail," Batchelor stated.
Batchelor's broadcasts in Israel were coordinated and co-hosted by WorldNetDaily's Aaron Klein.
For a great video report of Batchelor on Gaza border:
Click "play" below to view video - click here if video does not appear