Democrat President Joe Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been caught expressing doubts about Israel’s war effort in a leaked audio recording.
Biden and his administration have, at least publicly, expressed staunch support for Israel as it targets Hamas terrorists militarily in Gaza.
Israel has been responding to the horrific October 7 wave of terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas terrorists against predominately civilian Israelis.
It appears to be a different story in private, however.
The leaked audio has exposed Blinken demanding Israel alter its tactics and war plans.
In the recording, Blinken is heard warning Israeli officials that they lack the “credit” necessary to completely defeat and destroy Hamas.
He also warns that Israel is running out of time to do so, according to Breitbart.
The stunning leaked remarks seem to suggest that the Biden administration has lost its resolve to fully support Israel’s justified retaliation against Hamas and instead has caved to the radical demands for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of Israeli hostilities and “occupation” of Gaza by anti-Israel and anti-Semitic leftist activists and government staffers.
The Times of Israel reported that a local Israeli media outlet had obtained leaked audio of a meeting Thursday between Sec. Blinken and top members of Israel’s war cabinet, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israel Defense Force Chief Herzi Halevi, among others.
“You can’t operate in southern Gaza in the way you did in the north,” Blinken reportedly said.
“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?”
Chief Halevi replied, “We follow a number of principles — proportionality, distinction, and the laws of war.
“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.”
“The entire Israeli society is united behind the goal of dismantling Hamas, even if it takes months,” Minister Gallant added, but Blinken then interjected, “I don’t think you have the credit for that.”
The Daily Wire reported that there was immediate and sharp blowback to Blinken’s leaked remarks from the private war cabinet meeting in Israel.
Those blasting Blinken over the remarks include numerous prominent conservative figures and elected Republicans.
Chief among them was conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, who unloaded with harsh critiques of Blinken during a Washington Post Live segment he was participating in on Thursday.
Hewttt suggested this was further evidence in support of the theory that the Biden administration was quietly trying to “hold Israel back” in its fight against Hamas in Gaza.
“I think Sec. 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,” Hewitt said.
WATCH:
.@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
Hewitt was certainly not alone in criticizing Blinken, as he was joined by fellow conservative talk radio host Mark Levin.
Levin bluntly asked, “Who the hell does this Iran-loving, Hamas-appeasing buffoon of a secretary of state think he is?”
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
Likewise, former cable news host Lou Dobbs declared, “Blinken is an embarrassment to the USA and an existential threat to the state of Israel!”
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
Then there was Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who said in a statement, “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.”
