Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded to American critics on Sunday, defending Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks from Islamic terrorists in the Palestinian territories.
What is the background?
Members of the so-called “Squad” — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) — amplified anti-Israel rhetoric last week as Israel continued its military campaign against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Ocasio-Cortez called Israel an “apartheid state,” Omar accused Israel of committing acts of terrorism, while Tlaib called Netanyahu the “Apartheid-in-chief” and accused him of “committing war crimes.”
Tlaib and Omar even said after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that a ceasefire was not enough. Omar, instead, demanded“accountability for every war crime committed.” Meanwhile, Tlaib saidthe U.S. should stop sending aid to Israel if the Jewish nation doesn’t “uphold human rights,” claiming the ceasefire “will not alone achieve freedom, justice, and equality for all who live under Israel’s apartheid government.”
What did Regev say?
Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” the top Israeli diplomat dismissed criticism from Democrats, saying they don’t represent the views of a majority of Americans.
Regev also reiterated that Hamas is not just an enemy of Israel’s — but of the free world.
