2023-12-12 12:21:00
Biden Pledges Unwavering US Support for Israel, But Warns World Opinion Could Change
Joe Biden delivers a speech in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 8. Travis P Ball/Sipa/AP
United States President Joe Biden on Monday night touted his unwavering support for “the security of the Jewish people and the security of Israel and its right to exist” following the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7.
The president highlighted his support for Israel, although he acknowledged daylight on the issues between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, joking that he had once told the Israeli leader: “I love you, but I don’t agree with anything What you have to say”. say.” And he added: “Today more or less the same thing happens.”
Still, Biden said in remarks on the fifth night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that Israel was in “a difficult situation” following the Hamas attack and subsequent war in Gaza.
“We will continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful, they have to be careful,” Biden said. “World public opinion can change overnight, we cannot allow that to happen.”
The president also praised the work his administration has done to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region.
“We are working tirelessly for the safe return of the hostages. Personally, I spent countless hours (and I mean this, probably up to 20 hours with the Qataris, the Egyptians and the Israelis) to secure the freedom of the hostages, to get the trucks in, to get the humanitarian aid flowing, to convince them to to open the door, to have [el presidente egipcio Abdel Fattah] El-Sisi, make sure he has opened the door to Egypt,” Biden said.
“And now there are a whole series of things happening that are really very, very difficult. “We have taken more than 100 hostages and we are not going to stop until we all get home.”
Biden was joined by second gentleman Doug Emhoff and a group of White House officials descended from Holocaust survivors who lit the White House menorah.
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