President Biden delivered a strongly pro-Israel speech at an event hosted by DC’s Holocaust museum, denouncing the rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. He pledged “ironclad” support to the Jewish state, despite reports emerging that his administration is halting shipments of precision bombs to deter an Israeli offensive against Hamas. Biden condemned the surge of antisemitism, citing incidents on college campuses and the horrors of the Holocaust as reasons for it to stop.
The President criticized pro-Hamas protesters on college campuses, accusing them of forgetting that Hamas triggered the war in the Middle East through the slaughter of hundreds. He highlighted cases of antisemitism and harassment faced by Jewish students on campuses, as well as the denial, downplaying, and rationalizing of the horrors of the Holocaust and Hamas’s use of sexual violence against Jews. Biden reclaimed forceful pro-Israel rhetoric, blaming Hamas for starting the seven-month-old war and unleashing terror that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 innocent people.
Biden reiterated his commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as an independent Jewish state, stating that his support is unwavering even when disagreements arise. He mentioned his visit to Israel after Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel and his denouncement of their death toll data as propaganda in October. The US leader warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to invade Rafah, a Hamas-controlled area, where US officials estimate over 1 million Gaza residents are living.
Polling shows that Biden’s re-election may be at risk due to backlash from key Democratic constituencies like younger voters, Arab Americans, and Muslim Americans, while Netanyahu has pushed back on Biden’s mounting criticism. The Israeli Prime Minister expressed determination that Israel will defend itself, regardless of international pressure, and emphasized that the Jewish people will not be defenseless against their enemies like in the Holocaust. Netanyahu’s defiant speech at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial conveyed Israel’s resolve to defeat their genocidal enemies and ensure that history does not repeat itself.
The President emphasized the need to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and the terror unleashed by Hamas, and called for an end to the surge of antisemitism around the world. Despite facing criticism for his handling of the situation in the Middle East, Biden maintained his support for Israel’s right to exist as an independent Jewish state. He acknowledged the challenges faced by Jewish students on college campuses and condemned the denial of the horrors of the Holocaust, urging for an end to antisemitic propaganda and attacks.
In his address, Biden condemned Hamas for brutalizing Israelis, holding hostages, and unleashing terror that resulted in the deaths of innocent people, including survivors of the Holocaust. The President stated that the memory of the atrocities committed by Hamas should not be forgotten, and reiterated his commitment to the safety and security of the Jewish people. Despite challenges and disagreements, Biden affirmed his unwavering support for Israel in the face of rising antisemitism and ongoing conflict in the Middle East.