Fetterman on pager attack in Lebanon: ‘If anything, I love it’
Sen. John Fetterman said he supports Israel’s recent pager attack on Hezbollah, adding that “if anything,” he loves it.
“I want to be very clear, I thought what Israel chose to do about blowing up the pagers and walkie talkies and after targeting and eliminating membership and leadership of Hezbollah, I absolutely support that,” Fetterman (D-Pa.) said. “In fact, if anything, I love it.”
Israel detonated Hezbollah walkie talkies and pagers last week in remote attacks that killed at least 32 people and injured more than 3,000. Hezbollah on Sunday launched dozens of rockets at an Israeli airbase. U.S. officials said the pager attacks were likely to escalate tensions — and could even cause an all-out war.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been a strong critic of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, recently said of the attacks on the Senate floor that Netanyahu was sabotaging a cease-fire deal with the pager attack.
“Every time a deal appears close Netanyahu moves the goalposts, introducing new demands and torpedoing the deal,” Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a clip played for Fetterman. “It is clear to me that Netanyahu is prolonging the war in order to cling to power.”
When asked if he agreed with anything the Vermont senator said in the clip, Fetterman said, "No, not at all."
“Israel demonstrated that they will not allow terrorists not to be held accountable,” Fetterman said. “And I fully support that and it's not about nothing like what my colleague has said.”
Fetterman, a strong pro-Israel Democrat, has been one of the most vocal Israel defenders since the attacks last Oct. 7. He has slammed ceasefire protesters and has split with factions from his party over the issue, often going viral for doing so. The stance has caused criticism from other Democrats — and has led to a departure of staff from his Senate office.
“I would be the last man standing to be absolutely there on the Israeli side on this with no conditions,” Fetterman once said in an interview with POLITICO. “Without destroying Hamas, there will be no enduring peace and a stable, two-state solution.”
Date: |
-
The Guardian - World
Middle East crisis live: Israel launches new wave of ‘widespread’ strikes in Lebanon after claiming senior Hezbollah leader killed
IDF says it is carrying out fourth wave of strikes today; Israel claims Ibrahim Qubaisi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut. Living in Lebanon: how have you been ...9 minutes ago -
BBC News - Top stories
What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon?
Escalating cross-border hostilities have heightened fears of an all-out conflict.1 hour ago - Israel -
CNBC - Business
'We have much more on the way, if they will continue,' Israel's president says as death toll from Lebanon attack tops 550
Israel's Monday air strike into Lebanon, which killed more than 550 people, comes amid a dramatic escalation of hostilities on the border.1 hour ago -
BBC News - Top stories
One week on, how the Lebanon attacks have changed the Middle East
David Aaronovitch asks why the operation was carried out - and what we can expect in the weeks ahead.4 hours ago -
The New York Times - World
As Lebanon Reels From Israeli Attacks, the Future Is Murky for a Wounded Hezbollah
Some experts said that Israel’s onslaught had left Hezbollah in disarray. Others noted its large weapons stockpiles and history of adapting to battle Israel’s much more high-tech military.4 hours ago - Israel -
NBC News - Top stories
Israel steps up deadly Lebanon attacks and ExxonMobil sued over plastics recycling: Morning Rundown
Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Middle East conflict, ExxonMobil lawsuit, Nebraska electoral college, Mike McDonnell, Novo Nordisk, Biden UN speech, Donald Trump6 hours ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Dershowitz: Israel’s pager attack was legal under the laws of war
The law is clear that if a person becomes a combatant, he is a legitimate military target.6 hours ago - Israel -
BBC News - Top stories
'I thought my panic attack was a heart attack'
A man from County Tyrone is sharing his story of overcoming anxiety to help tackle the stigma around it.8 hours ago -
The New York Times - World
Israel Launches Intense Airstrikes on Hezbollah, Killing Hundreds in Lebanon
It was the deadliest day of Israeli attacks in Lebanon since at least 2006. More than a thousand were also injured, Lebanon’s health ministry said, without saying how many were civilians. The armed ...10 hours ago - Israel -
Yahoo News - World
Lebanon Health Ministry: 356 dead, 1,246 injured in Israeli attacks
22 hours ago - Israel -
CBS News - Top stories
Israel strikes Lebanon in latest series of attacks aimed at Hezbollah
Israel carried out widespread missile strikes overnight in Lebanon in the latest in a series of attacks against the militant group Hezbollah. It comes after Hezbollah sent dozens of rockets into ...Yesterday - Israel -
NBC News - Top stories
Wave of Israeli strikes inside Lebanon are deadliest attacks since the war in 2006
A wave of Israeli attacks inside Lebanon has been the deadliest since the last war with Hezbollah back in 2006. The Lebanese health ministry says 274 people were killed in Israeli strikes across ...Yesterday - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Is Israel’s pager attack prelude to a full invasion of Lebanon?
This recent campaign raises crucial questions about Israel’s broader strategic goals.Yesterday - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Ex-CIA chief: Pager blasts in Lebanon are 'terrorism'
Former CIA director Leon Panetta has labeled last week's deadly pager explosions in Lebanon as a form of "terrorism" and warned that the Middle East is at risk of becoming the "battlefield of the ...Yesterday -
The New York Times - World
Why Israel Is Escalating Attacks Against Hezbollah in Lebanon: News Analysis
Israel’s intensifying strikes show how determined it is to stop Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks — and how far it is from achieving that goal.Yesterday - Israel -
The Guardian - World
Middle East crisis live: Iran arrests 12 people for ‘collaborating with Israel’
Hezbollah deputy leader says confrontation with Israel now ‘open-ended battle of reckoning’. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi , has been speaking to the media in New York ahead of the UN ...Yesterday - Iran -
The Hill - Politics
Fetterman says Mark Robinson story is ‘great news’ for Democrats
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Sunday that the allegations against North Carolina Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson are “great news” for Democrats. Fetterman joined MSNBC’s “Meet the ...2 days ago -
CBS News - Top stories
Fallout of Israel's reported attack using Hezbollah pagers
This past week's attacks in Lebanon involving electronic devices used by Hezbollah (a group designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization) has led to thousands injured, dozens fatally. ...2 days ago - Israel -
NBC News - Politics
‘I love it’: Sen. Fetterman says he supports Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah pagers
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says on Meet the Press that he “absolutely” supports the new wave of attacks against Hezbollah, which are widely believed to be conducted by Israel, including the device ...2 days ago - Israel -
NBC News - Politics
Kamala Harris’ comments on shooting a home intruder are ‘absolutely’ responsible, Fetterman says
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) reacts to Vice President Kamala Harris’ remarks during an event with Oprah where she said, “If somebody breaks in my house, they’re getting shot.”2 days ago -
NBC News - Politics
Sen. Fetterman says Mark Robinson is the ‘new dream candidate to run against’
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) reacts to the bombshell report about North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, saying Democrats are now in the “best possible situation to win” the state.2 days ago -
The Guardian - World
Why Trump and Vance’s strategy is ‘say anything, make up anything’
From Vance’s penchant to ‘create stories’ to Trump’s false claims, lies are brazenly flaunted as a tactic to win support. JD Vance was holding court on CNN’s State of the Union programme. “The ...2 days ago - Donald Trump -
The New York Times - Top stories
Israel’s Pager Attacks Have Changed the World
Our supply chains are vulnerable, which means that we are vulnerable.2 days ago - Israel -
The Guardian - World
Israel strikes targets in Lebanon as Hezbollah launches deepest rocket attacks since start of Gaza war
Israeli military says its jets targeted hundreds of Hezbollah sites, while Hezbollah says it launched dozens of missiles at an airbase in northern Israel. Middle East crisis - latest news The ...2 days ago - Israel -
Yahoo News - World
Hezbollah and IDF launch heavy attacks across Israel-Lebanon border
2 days ago - Israel -
The New York Times - World
Israeli Attacks in Lebanon Mark a Sharp Strategic Shift
The events of this week seem to indicate that Israel’s leaders have decided they can no longer live with the threat of Hezbollah on their northern border, analysts say.2 days ago - Israel -
The Guardian - World
‘We’re not safe any more’: Lebanon reels from week of attacks that have intensified war with Israel
The country was divided before, unsure about its approach to Hezbollah, but now people are thinking as one. The smell of burnt rubber hung heavy over the rescue workers as they dug, painstakingly ...2 days ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Ocasio-Cortez says office 'tagged with blood-splattered signs' after pager attack remarks
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said her House office was "tagged with blood-splattered signs accusing [her] of supporting terrorism" after she condemned Israel for a series of ...3 days ago -
NBC News - Top stories
Pager attack used well-worn spy tactic to inflict new devastating human toll
The attack on Hezbollah via exploding pagers this week, widely believed to be conducted by Israel, was a novel use of a well-trodden spy tactic.4 days ago -
The New York Times - World
After Pager Attack, Israel and Hezbollah Return to Familiar Deadlock
Israel’s attack on Hezbollah’s communication devices raised expectations of a decisive shift in their war of attrition. Instead, the fighting has returned to a standoff.4 days ago - Israel -
The New York Times - Top stories
After Pager Attack, Israel and Hezbollah Return to Familiar Deadlock
Israel’s attack on Hezbollah’s communication devices raised expectations of a decisive shift in their war of attrition. Instead, the fighting has returned to a standoff.4 days ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Lessons from Israel's pager attack
Even as the Lebanese-Israeli crisis intensifies, there appears to be no end to the political machinations in Jerusalem.4 days ago - Israel -
Financial Times - Business
Super-producer Jack Antonoff: ‘Don’t make anything you wouldn’t die for’
The musician on his world-beating Taylor Swift collaboration, and why the music industry is ‘scam after scam’4 days ago -
Financial Times - World
Israel’s pager attack has raised the stakes in the Middle East
For Hizbollah the strike is a humiliation, while some Israelis see it as a prelude to a wider offensive in Lebanon4 days ago - Israel -
The New York Times - World
Lebanese Talk of Revenge for Pager Attacks
After two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, Beirut was a city on edge, with people worried there were bombs in their bags or pockets. Victims’ relatives vowed retribution.4 days ago -
The New York Times - Lifestyle
One Week After Meeting, a Bloody Nose and an ‘I Love You’
Gregory Addicott was on another date when he met Christopher Traina. Six weeks later, they became official and began a “press tour,” introducing each other to their respective families and friends.4 days ago
More from Politico
-
Politico - Politics
Dems hold slight edge in California swing House districts
A new public poll offers a rare glimpse into battleground races across the state.5 hours ago - California -
Politico - Politics
Hogan allies make big move in Maryland Senate race
19 hours ago -
Politico - Politics
Bipartisan stopgap plan faces first hurdle: A conservative trio
22 hours ago -
Politico - Politics
DOJ provides details on election security efforts to key Senate Democrats
Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Lawmakers back in Washington with short-term government funding bill atop to-do list
Yesterday