Former Israeli prime minister calls Biden weapon halt threat ‘deeply misguided’
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said President Biden’s threat to halt weapons to Israel is “deeply misguided.”
“Certainly, President Biden has always been a great friend to Israel, but I think that this decision is deeply misguided,” Bennett told CNN’s Erin Burnett on Thursday.
“What are we being told here,” he continued. “We have a radical jihadist terror organization on our border that’s telling us it’s going to continue trying to murder as many Jews as possible. Obviously, we have to get rid of it. We have no choice.”
Bennett said Hamas is hiding behind civilians and that Biden threatening to stop sending weapons to Israel would be a “profound mistake,” because Israel has “really no choice” and they must “do what we got to do.”
His comments follow a Wednesday declaration from Biden, who said that the U.S. would stop supplying Israel with offensive weapons like bombs or artillery shells if Israeli forces launch an invasion on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of civilians have taken refuge.
“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they got after population centers,” Biden told Burnett.
Biden said he made it clear that if Israel goes into Rafah, he would not supply the weapons.
The White House has urged Israel to make a plan to evacuate the refugees before entering the city, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been adamant about his plans to destroy Hamas, whom he claims are hiding in Rafah.
Bennett said Israeli is “absolutely not” using weapons to target civilians in Gaza, but said “all wars” have “collateral damage.”
Burnett pressed the former prime minister on Israel’s supposed “stockpile” of weapons that could be used without U.S. assistance to enter Rafah, asking if that stockpile contained American weapons.
“I don’t know. I assume that some of them are,” he replied, adding that he’s not in government right now.
Bennett continued, saying he doesn’t know why Israel has wavered on entering Rafah, which he said should have been done roughly four months ago.
“We’re doing this way too late, but it’s better late than never,” he said.
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
Filter
-
ICC prosecutor’s call for Netanyahu arrest warrant complicates US support as Israeli ministers condemn ‘scandalous’ move – live
Foreign minister Israel Katz says move by chief prosecutor is tantamount to an attack on the victims of 7 October; Israel-US relation likely to grow more complex. Senior figures in the Israeli government have reacted angrily to the announcement ...The Guardian - World - Israel -
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz criticized Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and threatened to quit the government if the prime minister doesn't articulate a plan for ending the war and securing the enclave.
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and threatened to quit the government if the prime minister doesn’t articulate a plan for ending the war and securing the enclave.The Wall Street Journal - World - Israel -
Slovakia's prime minister expected to survive after shooting
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to survive after being shot five times in what officials described as a politically motivated assassination attempt.CNN - Top stories -
Protests threats for Biden's Morehouse commencement speech
President Biden is expected in Atlanta Friday to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse College's graduation, despite threats of protests over the Israel-Hamas war. CBS News' Nikole Killion breaks down the latest.CBS News - Top stories - Joe Biden -
Taiwan’s new president calls on China to end threats and intimidation
Lai Ching-te says Taipei will ‘neither yield nor provoke’ in inaugural addressFinancial Times - Business - China -
Taiwan’s new president calls on China to end threats and intimidation
Lai Ching-te says Taipei will ‘neither yield nor provoke’ in inaugural addressFinancial Times - World - China -
Slovak prime minister in stable, but serious condition after assassination attempt
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is still hospitalized after being shot multiple times Wednesday in what officials are calling an assassination attempt. A government minister says there was a clear political motivation for the shooting, but ...CBS News - Top stories -
Slovakia's prime minister in stable but 'very serious' condition after assassination attempt
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to survive an assassination attempt following surgery, according to the country's deputy prime minister.CNBC - Business -
Prime minister of Slovakia recovering after he was shot in an assassination attempt
Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico is recovering after he was shot several times in an assassination attempt. The suspected gunman was detained at the scene.CBS News - World -
Slovak authorities charge 'lone wolf' with assassination attempt on the prime minister
Yahoo News - World
More from The Hill
-
Investigation finds BWM, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen bought parts linked to forced labor in China
Multiple major automakers relied on forced labor in China for some purchased parts, a Senate Finance Committee investigation found Monday. BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen purchased parts that were flagged by the U.S. government for links to ...The Hill - Politics - China -
The ruinous reign of Vladimir the Terrible
Putin has destroyed his army, lost Ukraine, strengthened NATO, diminished Russia’s security, transformed Russia into an abject vassal of China and turned back the clock on Russia’s economic and political modernization.The Hill - Politics -
Howard Dean won't run for Vermont governor
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) dashed speculation about another gubernatorial run Monday, deciding against a bid to challenge Republican Gov. Phil Scott. “In theory, this is a winnable race. But I’ve been in state and national politics for a ...The Hill - Politics -
Trump says 'very talented' Paxton possible AG pick
Former President Trump said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton would be a strong choice to run the Justice Department in a future Trump administration. In a conversation Sunday with Fox 4 Dallas Fort Worth at the NRA convention, Trump said he would ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Return-to-office mandate is backfiring on a key federal agency
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dynamics of the workplace have undergone a seismic shift. While some heralded the return to the office as a sign of normalcy, evidence suggests that for many, this transition has been far from smooth ...The Hill - Politics