Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday at a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) thanked President Joe Biden for his support, but said he would not let Biden block Israel’s victory. Ta.
Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the AIPAC leadership meeting via video from Israel.
His speech came after Biden publicly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over policy differences. Biden wants Israel to accept a Palestinian state as a result of the war. Prime Minister Netanyahu says it would be a huge reward for Hamas’s terrorism.
Biden has also called on Israel to refrain from attacking Hamas’ last stronghold in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza until it has a way to evacuate civilians.Israel wants civilians evacuated but says it will attack Rafah regardless
Prime Minister Netanyahu said:
[Y]You cannot say that you support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and that you oppose Israel when it exercises that right. You cannot say you support Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas and oppose it when Israel takes the necessary actions to achieve that goal. One cannot say that one opposes Hamas’ strategy of using civilians as human shields and then blames Israel for the civilian casualties that result from Hamas’ cynical strategy.
The full video and transcript of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks (provided by the Israeli Government Press Office) are below.
I would like to say a few words. I would like to say a few words to you, Mr. President, and to our wonderful friends at AIPAC. Thank you for supporting Israel at all times and especially during these difficult times. Thank you, AIPAC.
We are deeply grateful for the support we have received from President Biden and the Administration and hope it continues. But let me be clear: Israel will win this war no matter what.
To win this war, we must destroy the remaining Hamas battalion in Rafah. Otherwise, Hamas will regroup, rearm, reconquer Gaza, and be back to square one. And that is an intolerable threat that we cannot accept.
We will destroy Hamas, free the hostages, and ensure that Gaza never threatens Israel again.
We complete our mission in Rafah while ensuring that civilians are kept out of harm’s way. We have taken steps that no other military force in history has taken to minimize civilian casualties. Just ask Col. John Spencer, a world expert on urban warfare and head of urban warfare at West Point. We have taken steps that no other military force in history has taken to minimize civilian casualties.
So to my friends in the international community, I say this. You cannot say that you support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and that you oppose Israel when it exercises that right. You cannot say you support Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas and oppose it when Israel takes the necessary actions to achieve that goal. One cannot say that one opposes Hamas’ strategy of using civilians as human shields and then blames Israel for the civilian casualties that result from Hamas’ cynical strategy.
For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy. For Hamas, every civilian death is a strategy. Therefore, it is wrong and immoral to hold Israel to standards that avoid civilian casualties that no other nation on earth holds.
Friends, I want to assure you that no pressure can stop us. Israel’s very future, its very existence, is at stake. We have no choice but complete victory, and that victory is within our reach.
I know that the overwhelming majority of Americans support us. I know that the overwhelming majority of Congress supports us. I know you will support us. I know you work tirelessly every day to get tools to help us get the job done faster.
And on behalf of the united people of Israel, I would like to express my gratitude to AIPAC. Thank you for all you do for Israel. May God bless Israel. God Bless America. thank you. “
Prime Minister Netanyahu added:
“Some would have you believe that the people of Israel are divided. In fact, some would have you believe that there is a prime minister and then there is the people of Israel.
The truth is that the Israeli people overwhelmingly support the policies that I and my government have put forth. They overwhelmingly support the need for complete victory. Overwhelmingly. They overwhelmingly oppose the idea of shoving a Palestinian state down our throats.
There has just been a vote in Parliament to illustrate the point I have just made. A vote of 99-9 supported this position. And you know what? That’s not unreasonable. This is because they believe that granting a Palestinian state now, after the October 7th massacre, would be the greatest reward for terrorism in modern times.
They overwhelmingly reject the idea that after destroying Hamas in Gaza, we should instill in the Palestinian territories, which are still indoctrinating their children with terrorism and the annihilation of Israel. They want a future of peace, a future of security that comes with overwhelming victory.
And as I say, the possibilities of this victory, the possibilities that will open up are enormous, but it requires one word: victory. And once again, win, win, win. There is no substitute for it and we will achieve it together.
Thank you, AIPAC.
AIPAC has played a role in marshaling bipartisan support for Israel on Capitol Hill, but its influence has declined in the wake of the rise of an anti-Israel left within the Democratic Party and the failure to block President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. is decreasing. . It is often the target of attacks by anti-Israel activists.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. He is the author of the recent book, The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Participate in It), now available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
