The US ambassador to Israel has downplayed President Biden’s warning to Israel about its assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying that nothing has fundamentally changed in the US-Israel relationship and that the two countries don’t have “real disagreements.”
Biden said the US wouldn’t send heavy bombs to Israel if it launched a major attack on “population centers” in Rafah, a city that’s been a refuge for over one million civilians. Ambassador Jack Lew told Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday that so far, the US has approved Israel’s operations in Rafah, which continue to escalate.
“What the president said was: He doesn’t think it’s a good idea to have a massive ground campaign in a heavily populated area. But he specifically said that 2,000-pound bombs shouldn’t be used in that setting,” Lew said.
“So before there is a decision on how to proceed, the president was clear in the interview he gave the other evening that what Israel’s done so far hasn’t crossed over into the area where our disagreements lie. I’m hoping we don’t end up with real disagreements,” he added.
Lew also downplayed the hold on one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, noting the huge amount of support the US has provided for the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza since October 7.
“Just to be clear, we’re providing an enormous amount of aid. We have been since before October 7. It’s increased since October 7. And even this week, as everyone’s focusing on the decision to just delay, to hold one set of munitions, everything else keeps flowing,” Lew said. “I think it’s a mistake to think that anything has fundamentally changed in the relationship.”
When Biden made his warning about Rafah, he also vowed overall long-term military support for Israel wouldn’t change. Officials in his administration promised that Israel would get all of the $17 billion in new military aid that was recently authorized by Congress.
The blundering by Biden is appalling. His on and off again relationship with Israel is making him look weak. His lack of support for Israel may tip the election to Trump who is clearly a strong supporter of Israel.
If the Biden administration fails to support Israel, Biden will lose support from the Democratic Party right wing, and similarly inclined independents.
If the Biden administration supports Israel, Biden will lose support from the Democratic Party left wing, and similarly inclined independents.
Oh, the sorrows of empire!
“If the Biden admin fails to support Israel, [it] will lose support from the Democratic Party right.”
Voting for Trump himself is clearly what the depraved Zionist Burns is threatening:
Previously, B was content to coerce pro-Palestinian liberals to support Biden with the threat of Trump;
but now the mask’s off – truth is, Tim’s first loyalty is to the extreme right, war criminal state of Israel;
and therefore…when the WH delays 2000 lb bombs…
…an inherently indiscriminate bomb that directly caused intensive civilian deaths in the North…
…and would be more deadly in Rafah…
…which Israel says it will invade despite the US…
…a US act largely to support its memo alleging Israel’s not breaking int’natnl law w/US weapons…
…an act that represents no basic change in US policy…
…that brings out the true Burns: no more ‘warning’ Dem’s to vote Biden to avoid Trump; now he threatens to ditch him for “Trump…clearly a strong supporter of Israel.”
And your position is what? You spent a lot of time talking about me, so let us hear your position on if Biden position on the Gaza war is hurting or helping his reelection chance.
Your position is doggy, bitch.
I judge the man’s actions not his statements. And so far, he is lockstep with the agenda because Presidents don’t have a real say on this matter.
“Presidents don’t have a real say on this matter.” Since when?
Since the assassination of Kennedy
Since the assassination of JFK.
“His on and off again relationship with Israel is making him look weak.”
When dose the “off” part of the relationship kick in? He’s been kissing their ass his entire life. He’s enabled/supported an ongoing genocide. It doesn’t get any more “on” than that.
Yes, Virginia, that is the problem. We know it exists as certainly as hubris and greed and supremacists exist, and you know that they abound and bring the greatest suffering to humanity.
For once I agree. If we have to be party to ethic cleansing to the wholesale slaughter of innocent human beings in order to get reelected, well I say to Joe Biden, party on. It is so very – very You, Joe.
ethic cleansing
You can’t wash what isn’t in the hamper.
Then both the US and Israel have no moral authority, in any regard.
Death, dying and destruction, going on are on your hands.
The US Ambassador needs to read a copy of our constitution.
Our foreign policy stinks to high heaven.
This is just more of giving our Constitution, the Rule of Law, one BIG finger. What Biden is doing, what Congress is doing, is ILLEGAL, not just Federally, but also Internationally. We have to vote OUT every Republican and Democrat, for they are the ones destroying our Republic, by their seditious actions. If you do not want WW111, do not VOTE for any Rep/Dem.
“So before there is a decision on how to proceed, the president was clear in the interview he gave the other evening that what Israel’s done so far hasn’t crossed over into the area where our disagreements lie. I’m hoping we don’t end up with real disagreements,” he added.
In other words, Joe agrees with genocide. And not to worry about any real disagreements when you’re on board with genocide.
No real disagreements? NO?!? couldnt have fooled me.
I assume the Axis of Resistance is displeased that Biden withheld even one shipment of weapons – because the Axis, like the Russians in Ukraine, are trying to bleed the US and Israel of weapons before they attack. Of course, one shipment is just a PR ploy by Biden for the election. So the Axis isn’t concerned because shipments will be renewed.
People need to realize that all factions of the Axis – including Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen, the Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and Iran – are all willing to accept whatever civilian casualties occur in Gaza, so long as the eventual result is the elimination of Israel from Palestine and the elimination of the US from the Middle East. That will be the result because the US can NOT fight a major war in the Middle East against the Axis and win.