Backlash erupted against U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after he reportedly threatened Israeli officials who said it could take months to eradicate the terror group Hamas.
A report from The Times Of Israel derived from Channel 12 News claimed that when Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Blinken that all of Israel backs the elimination of the terrorist group Hamas “even if it takes months,” Blinken responded, “I don’t think you have the credit for that.”
“You can’t operate in southern Gaza in the way you did in the north,” Blinken reportedly warned IDF Chief Herzi Halevi and Gallant. “There are two million Palestinians there. 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?”
“We follow a number of principles — proportionality, distinction, and the laws of war,” Halevi reportedly responded. “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”.
Gallant then asserted, “The entire Israeli society is united behind the goal of dismantling Hamas, even if it takes months,” prompting Blinken to answer, “I don’t think you have the credit for that.”
Despite the 1,200 Israelis murdered by Hamas in the October 7 attack, Blinken’s warning that Israel’s attack is on borrowed time is distinctly different from the Biden administration’s lasting and continuing support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, which has lasted since February 24, 2022. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to support Ukraine on April 28, 2022; $20 billion of the funding was to provide weapons to Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, by September 2023 the Biden administration had sent $76.8 billion to Ukraine.
Blinken was harshly criticized for his threat to abandon U.S. support for Israel.
“Secretary 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,” radio host Hugh Hewitt said bluntly.
.@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
“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,” Arkansas GOP Senator Tom Cotton blasted.
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. https://t.co/MPcJFMjrro
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) November 30, 2023
Blinken is an embarrassment to the USA and an existential threat to the state of Israel!
Surrender: Blinken Tells Israel It Lacks ‘Credit’ to Defeat Hamas https://t.co/UxJwalyHsB
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) December 1, 2023
As bad as we expected the Antony Blinken Lecture Tour in Jerusalem to be, even I wouldn't have predicted that a US Secretary of State would have said this to a country victimized by a massive terror attack that killed 1400 people.https://t.co/A9kIOs2D84
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) November 30, 2023
They keep telling us that they’ll continue murdering, raping, torturing and butchering. They murdered four Israelis today.
Let’s see how long Israel’s “credit,” as Blinken heartlessly called it, lasts to destroy their terror infrastructure and kill this personification of evil. https://t.co/HwKlVygt9A
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) December 1, 2023
Who the hell does this Iran-loving, Hamas-appeasing buffoon of a secretary of state think he is?https://t.co/BZaNN9caNK
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) November 30, 2023