Speaking on MSNBC's “Andrea Mitchell Report” on Wednesday, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was concerned about Israel's attacks on Hezbollah that they would damage prospects for a ceasefire agreement, saying, “There is no stronger ally of Israel in the world than the United States. And I'm sometimes troubled by how the Netanyahu administration sometimes takes that for granted.”
host Andrea Mitchell asked:[T]As you know, there was a new explosion in Lebanon today. … And it happened just as he arrived in Egypt to try to negotiate a diplomatic solution. He said today that the United States had no advance warning and has implicitly criticized anything that would hinder a ceasefire. Do you think this will hinder negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages?
Warner responded: “Andrea, I have two concerns. One is, we've come very close many times with a ceasefire and a hostage exchange, and then recently we lost six hostages. … And anything that sets it back is going to be very difficult. Not just in the Gaza conflict, [are] “There is a series of states in the region, including Saudi Arabia, that I think are looking for a major realignment away from China and Russia, but that won't happen until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. And what we are seeing now, again, there is no confirmation yet of the origins of this attack. But we are very concerned that the conflict will spread to Lebanon and that this kind of retaliation with Hezbollah will move into a full armed conflict. This is not in Israel's interest, and it is certainly not in the interest of Lebanon or any other state in the region.”
Mitchell added: “So what does it mean for Israel to initiate this, as Secretary of State Blinken just arrived in Cairo – his 10th visit to the region since October 7th – which could delay the possibility of a deal being reached during President Joe Biden's term in office?”
Warner responded, “I strongly support Israel's right to self-defense. And while Israel has obviously forced about 100,000 Israelis to leave their homes in the north, I also believe that there is no stronger ally of Israel in the world than the United States. And I'm sometimes troubled by the way that the Netanyahu government sometimes takes that for granted. And I think that's contrary to Israel's long-term interests and also to our long-term interests as lifelong supporters of Israel. I'll end it here.”
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