Green Bay Reporter

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Intelligence Committee, has criticized U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his recent remarks in Israel. Gallagher argues that Blinken's speech undermines Israel and worsens the reputation of the United States in the Middle East.

During his press conference in Israel, Secretary Blinken emphasized that Hamas cannot retain governance of Gaza. However, Gallagher disagrees, stating, "Hamas cannot remain at all. This is an irrefutable point that was avoided throughout his entire speech."

Gallagher further criticizes the Biden administration for not holding Hamas accountable for its attack against Israel. He believes that the administration spends more time publicly shaming the Israeli government for civilian casualties than punishing the murderous organization. He states, "This weakness will not only benefit Hamas but also worsen our reputation in the Middle East."

To achieve lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, Gallagher argues that the administration should fully support the destruction of Hamas. He believes that Hamas's existence is incompatible with the two-state solution that the administration seeks because Hamas believes that any Jew's existence is incompatible with life. Gallagher adds, "The Biden administration should be doing everything possible to ensure the swift and complete elimination of a terrorist organization that is happily murdering children and putting their citizens in harm's way to achieve more mass murder."

Gallagher's statement highlights the concern among some lawmakers about the approach taken by the Biden administration towards Israel and its handling of Hamas. The criticism raises questions about the impact of Blinken's remarks on the U.S. reputation in the region and the potential consequences for the ongoing peace efforts between Israel and Palestine.

To find out more, go to this link: https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-blinken-speech-undermines-israel-worsens-us-reputation-middle-east