President Joe Biden and his administration have, at least publicly, expressed staunch support for Israel as it responds militarily in Gaza to the horrific Oct. 7 wave of terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas terrorists against predominately civilian Israelis.
It appears to be a different story in private, however, as leaked audio has exposed Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding Israel alter its tactics and war plans and informing them that they lacked the "credit" necessary to completely defeat and destroy Hamas and were running out of time to do so, according to Breitbart.
The stunning leaked remarks seem to suggest that the Biden administration has lost its resolve to fully support Israel's justified retaliation against Hamas and instead has caved to the radical demands for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of Israeli hostilities and "occupation" of Gaza by anti-Israel and antisemitic leftist activists and government staffers.
The Times of Israel reported that a local Israeli media outlet had obtained leaked audio of a meeting Thursday between Sec. Blinken and top members of Israel's war cabinet, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israel Defense Force Chief Herzi Halevi, among others.
"You can’t operate in southern Gaza in the way you did in the north. There are two million Palestinians there," Blinken reportedly said. "You need to evacuate fewer people from their homes, be more accurate in the attacks, not hit U.N. facilities, and ensure that there are enough protected areas [for civilians]. And if not? Then not to attack where there is a civilian population. What is your system of operation?"
Chief Halevi replied, "We follow a number of principles -- proportionality, distinction, and the laws of war. There were instances where we attacked on the basis of those principles, and instances where we decided not to attack, because we waited for a better opportunity."
"The entire Israeli society is united behind the goal of dismantling Hamas, even if it takes months," Minister Gallant added, but Blinken then interjected, "I don’t think you have the credit for that."
The Daily Wire reported that there was immediate and sharp blowback to Sec. Blinken's leaked remarks from the private war cabinet meeting in Israel from numerous prominent conservative figures and elected Republicans.
Chief among them was conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, who unloaded with harsh critiques of Blinken during a Washington Post Live segment he was participating in on Thursday, who suggested this was further evidence in support of the theory that the Biden administration was quietly trying to "hold Israel back" in its fight against Hamas in Gaza.
"I think Sec. Blinken’s meeting in Israel yesterday, where he told Israel that they didn’t have the 'credit' they needed to destroy Hamas followed by that rather disastrous press conference in which -- I don’t even know how to frame it other than it was a complete and utter message to Hamas that we’re going to pull the rug out of Israel, do what you will -- I think yesterday will go down as one of the worst diplomatic face plants in history," Hewitt said.
.@hughhewitt says, “Secretary Blinken’s meeting in Israel yesterday where he told Israel that they didn’t have the credit ... needed to destroy Hamas followed by that rather disastrous press conference … will go down as one of the worst diplomatic face plants in history.” pic.twitter.com/kttrGYR1Tm
— Washington Post Live (@PostLive) December 1, 2023
Hewitt was certainly not alone in criticizing Sec. Blinken, as he was joined by fellow conservative talk radio host Mark Levin, who bluntly asked, "Who the hell does this Iran-loving, Hamas-appeasing buffoon of a secretary of state think he is?"
Likewise, former cable news host Lou Dobbs declared, "Blinken is an embarrassment to the USA and an existential threat to the state of Israel!"
Then there was Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who said in a statement, "The idea that after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Israel needs 'credit' to defend itself is outrageous. Blinken and Biden should be ashamed. The American people stand with Israel -- even if Biden does not."
