In an apparent shift in U.S. policy on the Gaza war, State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters at a briefing Tuesday that the U.S. shares the goal of “degrading” Hamas, and that the word “defeat” is not appropriate. He said he is avoiding the use of
On Monday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: Said Reporters said President Joe Biden shared Israel’s goal of “defeating” Hamas, but did not think that would require Israel to attack Hamas in its last stronghold in Rafah.
The President today reiterated to the Prime Minister that while we share the goal of defeating Hamas, we believe we need a coherent and sustainable strategy to achieve it.
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Now, the president has rejected, and rejected today, the strawman that questioning Rafah is the same as questioning overthrowing Hamas. That’s complete nonsense.
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And from the US perspective, this is not a question of defeating Hamas. And every time I hear the argument, “You can’t defeat Hamas without crushing Rafah,” I say, “That’s a straw man.”
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[T]The president is not focused on what is popular, what is unpopular, and how to shape public opinion. He is interested in how to reach the right result. The right outcome is the permanent defeat of Hamas, a two-state solution with a secure Israel and a Palestinian state that legitimizes Palestinian aspirations, and broader normalization. Israel will also improve its relations with all its Arab neighbors so that they can maintain peace.
As Breitbart News reported, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated his view that while he is willing to discuss the matter with the Biden administration, there is no way to defeat Hamas without joining Rafah.
Patel was then asked to respond to Netanyahu’s comments on Tuesday. Patel said the Biden administration has an “alternative approach” to “target key Hamas forces, help secure the Egypt-Gaza border, and do it without a major ground operation in Rafah.” He said he looked forward to discussions with Israeli officials in Washington regarding the issue.
Patel then mentioned “our common goal of discrediting Hamas,” which is very different from “defeating” Hamas.
Mr Patel also opposed Israel’s plan to create a one-kilometre-wide buffer zone within the Gaza Strip along the border with Israel to prevent future terrorist attacks. “We cannot reduce the territory of Gaza,” Patel told reporters.
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 a recent book.The Zionist conspiracy (and how to join it)‘ is 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.
