Compare the statements from Barack Obama and John McCain on Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Obama is filled with sympathy for the “tragedy.” What was this–a forest fire? You would never know that these men had been kidnapped and murdered. Is Obama so lacking a moral compass that he cannot discern evil? Or so fearful of being disliked?

A natural disaster is a tragedy. This was, both with regard to the slain Israelis and the returned Lebanese murderer, another episode of vicious criminality. Obama could not bring himself to identify the egregious behavior of Israel’s enemies or of the larger meaning of the outrage. John McCain gets closer to the point:

“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. When I met the Regev and Goldwasser families in Israel, I was moved by their profound love for their sons, who were kidnapped by Hezbollah in the summer of 2006. Now we know that Eldad and Ehud made the ultimate sacrifice for the country they served and loved. In spite of this tragic loss, Israel and the United States will remain united in their struggle against terrorism. The continuing attacks on Israel by Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terrorist groups supported by state sponsors of terror like Syria and Iran pose a severe threat to Israel. Our democratic ally is under siege, and these two deaths are just the latest in a long line of brave Israelis who have been killed by vicious terrorists. Though we mourn the loss of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, we are reminded by this that we must never waver in our support for Israel, and we continue to demand the re lease of Gilad Shalit, taken captive by Hamas and held illegally since the summer of 2006.”

I think Marty Peretz said it best. If people want an explanation of why some doubt whether Obama “gets it” on Israel, this is Exhibit “A.”