‘I am a Zionist,’ Biden says, vowing to keep up support for Israel until Hamas is defeated

US president also cautions world opinion about the war may shift

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The U.S. will keep supporting Israel with military equipment until the terror organization Hamas is defeated, President Joe Biden promised during a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night.

Biden also decried the “surge of antisemitism” around the world in front of a crowd of over 800 guests, including Holocaust survivors, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, about two dozen members of Congress, Jewish community leaders and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

The president vowed to keep supporting Israel in the war against Hamas while cautioning that international pressure could rise if world opinion about the war shifted against Israel.

“We continue to provide military assistance [to the IDF] until they get rid of Hamas – but you have to be careful, I have to be careful,” Biden said.

“The whole world, public opinion, can shift overnight, you can’t let that happen.”

The U.S. has increased its pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza in recent days, with Israel agreeing to raise the amount of fuel entering the Strip.

“We will continue to lead the world in humanitarian assistance [to Gaza]. We need to protect civilian life,” Biden stressed.

Biden noted differences of opinion with Israeli officials, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recalling the following words he wrote on the back of a photo of the two leaders more than 50 years ago.

“Bibi I love you, but I don’t agree with a damn thing you say,” adding that the situation hadn’t changed much since. “It’s the same today. I love you, but…“

“I have made no bones about it, I have had my differences with some Israeli officials,” Biden said.

The president also addressed the antisemitism awakening all over the world and especially in the West, in the wake of the Hamas massacre and the following war.

“I also recognize your hurt from the silence and the fear for your safety,” the president said. “The surge of antisemitism in the US and the world is sickening.”

“As I said after the attack, my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, and the security of Israel, its right to exist as an independent Jewish state, is unshakeable. You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. I am a Zionist.”