U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the welcome ceremony during his visit to Israel on July 13, 2022 in Lod, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) President Joe Biden said during a July 13 interview with Israel’s Channel 12 that the anti-Israel voices in the Democratic Party are “few” and “wrong.”
Channel 12 news anchor Yonit Levi told Biden that some in “Democratic Party circles” view Israel as an apartheid state and have called for ending unconditional military aid to the Jewish state. “There is an undeniable gap between you and those voices,” Levi said.
Biden replied: “There are a few of them. I think they’re wrong. I think they’re making a mistake. Israel is a democracy. Israel is our ally. Israel is a friend.” He proceeded to tout his administration’s efforts in providing $4 billion in aid to Israel plus an additional billion dollars in military aid and they’re working with Israel on developing a “laser project” to replace the Iron Dome. Biden said it was in the United States’ interests to ensure Israel’s stability.
Levi then asked if there should be concerns over the future of Israel and the Democrat Party if even Iron Dome interceptors are considered “controversial.” “No,” Biden responded.
More from exclusive @POTUS interview with @N12News: voices in the Democratic Party calling Israel an apartheid state are “few, and they are wrong” pic.twitter.com/CkX3XRkRSL
— Yonit Levi (@LeviYonit) July 13, 2022
Jewish groups praised Biden’s comments.
“Thank you, @POTUS for this unequivocal statement and reassurance that, despite those who seek to distance the U.S. from its longstanding ally, we will never abandon the Jewish state,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted.
"Israel is a democracy. Israel is our ally. Israel is a friend…and I make no apologies." — Thank you, @POTUS for this unequivocal statement and reassurance that, despite those who seek to distance the U.S. from its longstanding ally, we will never abandon the Jewish state. https://t.co/Ti1YdYdIjM
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) July 13, 2022
AIPAC similarly thanked Biden. “We are proud to champion bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Ensuring both parties stand with our democratic ally Israel advances America’s interests and saves lives.”
Thank you @POTUS!
We are proud to champion bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Ensuring both parties stand with our democratic ally Israel advances America's interests and saves lives.#POTUSIsrael2022
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) July 13, 2022
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt also praised Biden in a tweet, but added that he wished that Biden would stop trying to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Bravo @JoeBiden. Only time he’s agreed to be interviewed on my show was during an AIPAC conference in DC where I was broadcasting. He’s long supported Israel. Just wish his team would stand w/ Israel against Iran and kill the attempt to resurrect JCPOA 2.0. https://t.co/0LRbLaqutX
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 13, 2022
The Iran deal was also discussed in Biden’s interview with Levi. “I think the previous president made a huge mistake when he left the agreement, Iran is now closer to developing nuclear weapons than it used to be,” Biden said, adding that “we can act against them and still reach an agreement that will curb the nuclear program.” However, he pledged during the interview that he would not remove the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps from the foreign terror organization list.
EXCLUSIVE @POTUS interview with @N12News: committed to keeping IRGC on the foreign terrorist organizations list even if it kills the deal; willing to use force “as last resort” pic.twitter.com/jWjLO0SVQz
— Yonit Levi (@LeviYonit) July 13, 2022
Biden is currently in Israel for the next couple of days and will fly to Saudi Arabia on July 15.
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