U.S. Administration vs Israel

Biden and Blinken Poke Israel in the Eye

Hugh Fitzgerald

It’s no secret that the Biden Administration is deeply disappointed that Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, and its coalition partners, won enough seats in the Knesset to assure Netanyahu of becoming Israel’s next Prime Minister. Netanyahu is seen by the Bidenites as too unyielding, insufficiently willing to placate either the Palestinians or, for that matter, the Americans. 

And the Bidenites have been poking Israel in the eye ever since the election. The latest manifestation of this is Tony Blinken’s decision to give the keynote speech at the annual meeting of the leftist Jewish group, J Street, which claims to support Israel (“Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, Pro-Democracy” is its motto), but it appears to many observers that J Street’s support depends on the Jewish state agreeing to be squeezed back within the 1949 armistice lines.

Daniel Greenfield wrote about Blinken’s J Street appearance at Jihad Watch here. More on his appearance, and other Bidenite pokes in Israel’s eye, can be found here: “Welcome, Bibi: Blinken To Headline Anti-Israel J Street Conference,” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, December 1, 2022:

…A State Department spokesman told the Free Beacon that Blinken’s engagement with anti-Israel groups like J Street is an “important part” of the agency’s mission.

“It is routine for the secretary of state to engage with different civil society groups representing a broad array of foreign policy interests, this is an important part of the State Department’s domestic outreach,” the spokesman said.

But everyone in Washington knows that this particular civil society group has only one issue – Israel – and only one desire, which is to force Israel to make territorial concessions for the sake of “peace” to those who would destroy it. 

J Street is not exactly a reflection of a large slice of “civil society.” It is supported by a few thousand contributors, but about half of its money comes from a handful of rich donors. These include George Soros (who wants the world to know that he contributes “only” 2.5% of the total), Bill Benter, the Skoll Global Threats Fund, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation, which have contributed each year between $200,000 and $400,000 apiece. In one year, a contribution of $811,697 came from a certain Consolacion Esdicul in Hong Kong, apparently solicited by Mr. Benter. And there are other donors who give at least $100,000 each year.

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