Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has accused the White House of intentionally leaking a conversation between Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The claim comes after Biden informed Netanyahu that the U.S. would not support Israeli retaliation against Iran following this weekend’s aggressive missile attack by Tehran.
The leak is purportedly aimed at pacifying anti-Israel factions within the Democratic Party, according to Rubio. He told CNN on Sunday morning: “They know that Israel’s going to respond — they know that for a fact. So, why would the White House leak it? There’s only one reason they leaked that. And that is so when Israel does respond, the White House can say, ‘We told them not to do it,’ and at least somehow in some way, appease these so-called peace activists.”
Rubio’s comments underscore a deep division in U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and its adversaries. Despite Biden’s assertion on Saturday that U.S. support for Israel was “ironclad,” his stance shifted notably during his communication with Netanyahu, highlighting a reluctance to back Israel in potential offensives against Iran.
Did the White House Deliberately 'Leak' Biden and Netanyahu's Phone Call As A Way To Appease Biden's Antisemitic Supporters? https://t.co/5mdmFwumiF
— Lois Levine Fishman (@FishmanLevine) April 14, 2024
The senator from Florida criticized the Biden administration’s response to supporters of Iran’s actions, condemning their celebration of the assault on Israel. “These ‘ceasefire now’ people who were out yesterday cheering the launch of hundreds of rockets and drones and missiles against Israel; people that are out there cheering military attacks of this scale and scope are not peace activists — these are anti-semites, anti-Israel, pro-terrorist elements out there,” Rubio said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. demonstrated its commitment to Israel’s defense by assisting in intercepting the missiles from Iran. Over the weekend, U.S. forces, along with their Israeli counterparts, managed to neutralize most of the threats, as Iran launched a significant number of missiles and drones.
Why leak that Biden told Netanyahu not to respond to Iran’s massive attack against Israel?
Because the Biden Administration is still catering to its anti-Israel, antisemitic base. pic.twitter.com/t6E4nqedt4
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) April 14, 2024
As international tensions escalate, Biden also engaged with leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) and the Middle East to discuss the situation. The G7 strongly condemned Iran’s attack and discussed additional sanctions, including formally designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The recent events and the alleged leak represent a complex balancing act for Biden, who seeks to maintain an ironclad defense commitment to Israel while also managing sensitive diplomatic relations within the Middle East and his party. The administration’s actions suggest a strategy of cautious engagement, avoiding direct conflict while underscoring the capability and readiness to support Israel’s defense.
However, if true, Rubio’s allegations could point to a strategic leak intended to distance the U.S. from a confrontation with Iran while managing the political implications within the Democratic Party. Such maneuvers, while tactically significant, might risk alienating key allies and voters who favor a more definitive stance in support of Israel.
