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CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: US Senator John Fetterman Visiting Israel: ‘No to Any Deal that Leaves Hamas in Power’ [#JohnFetterman]

https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1805956244437373303
Source: Prime Minister of Israel X Account, @IsraeliPM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Senator John Fetterman, and thanked him for his visit and his consistent support of Israel.
The PM told the Senator that his standing up to pro-Palestinian demonstrators, while waving an Israeli flag, was courageous and heart-warming.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to @SenFettermanPA
“We’ve been through dark times in these months of anguish war. During that time, I can say that Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman.
Senator, welcome to Israel.

PM Netanyahu: “I want to thank you for your courageous statements that show moral clarity and moral courage and you just say it the way it is. We appreciate this friendship at all times but especially at these times. So welcome, friend.”

Outspoken pro-Israel Democrat says during his first trip to Israel that Biden should not have withheld bombs; supports Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

United States Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), echoing Israel’s leadership, warned on Thursday that he would oppose any deal with Hamas that ended the Gaza war and left the terror group in power.

“I fully support the prime minister’s idea that he can never allow a permanent ceasefire [if] Hamas is allowed to be functional.”

– US Senator John Fetterman, speaking in Jerusalem during his first trip to Israel

“That’s my red line on that. I could never support Israel being bullied into an artificial kind of permanent ceasefire against an enemy like Hamas.”

– US Senator John Fetterman, the freshman senator, clad in his trademark shorts and hoodie sweatshirt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that he will battle until Hamas is destroyed for its devastating October 7 attack on Israel.

On June 11, Hamas stated a proposal put out by US President Joe Biden and backed by Israel did not meet its demand for a complete end to the Gaza war, and it responded with significant revisions that mediators have struggled to bridge.

According to reports, the Biden proposal calls for a temporary ceasefire in the first phase of the agreement, which will be followed by “a sustainable calm (the permanent cessation of military operations and hostilities)” in the second phase.

However, Netanyahu has frequently disputed that the proposal calls for the conflict to cease before Israel fulfills its 2 declared goals of defeating Hamas and bringing home all hostages.

“There will never be any meaningful peace as long as Hamas is allowed to occupy [Gaza]. And Gaza will need to be rebuilt. And how could anybody think that’s possible if that organization is there?”

– US Senator John Fetterman, the towering Pennsylvania Democrat

Earlier this week, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated that a program to replace Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip would start “in the coming days.”

It would be based on native Gazans who are not linked with Hamas.

Hamas rejected any proposal that would prevent it from governing Gaza, stating in a statement that the future of the Strip “will be decided by the Palestinian people themselves and no one else.”

“How can you possibly rebuild Gaza when those resources must be flowing through Hamas?”

– US Senator John Fetterman questioned on the final day of a 3-day trip that included meetings with Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials

Anyone involved in Gaza reconstruction would face “a rifle head to their head” if Hamas remained in charge, he claimed.

Fetterman warned that such a process would “turn into a geyser of resources for Hamas,” allowing them to rebuild tunnels and buy weapons.

“We have to have that conversation because it’s very disingenuous if you pretend that, oh, yeah, that rebuild is going to be smooth and it’s just going to be writing some checks and it’s all going to turn out fine.”

– US Senator John Fetterman

Since the Israel-Hamas war began nearly 9 months ago, Fetterman has been one of Israel’s most outspoken supporters at the US Capitol, wallpapering his office with photos of Hamas hostages and wearing dog tags to show his support for their release.

The strategy has won him critics on the left and, unexpectedly, friends on the right.

The lawmaker has often confronted far-left, anti-Israel protesters.

While accepting an honor at Yeshiva University’s graduating ceremony, he also spoke out against his alma mater, Harvard University, for its treatment of Jewish students.

While he continues to support Biden, whom he calls “a strong, strong, unapologetic ally of Israel,” Fetterman said he disagrees with the White House’s decision to keep some weapons from Israel.

The Biden administration confirmed last month that it had halted a massive supply of 2,000- and 500-pound bombs, which it anticipated Israel would employ in a significant ground offensive in Rafah.

“I’ve been very clear there’s no conditions, and that hasn’t changed.”

– US Senator John Fetterman

“I didn’t support withholding any of those large bombs, because they have to fight an enemy that hides in tunnels and I trust Israel’s judgment. They are not looking to maximize civilian death.”

– US Senator John Fetterman

Hamas, on the other hand, is attempting to kill as many Gazans as possible, he maintained: “They celebrate the death and misery of Palestinians because they believe that that is their tool to demonize Israel.”

In dozens of messages sent over several months and obtained by The Wall Street Journal, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar communicated to Hamas compatriots and mediating parties that he had no interest in pursuing a ceasefire with Israel, believing that the rising civilian death toll would benefit Hamas more than a cessation of fighting.

Fetterman said he met with Netanyahu to discuss the prime minister’s speech before a joint session of Congress next month.

A number of Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott the address.

“I think the Prime Minister has the right to have that opportunity.”

– US Senator John Fetterman

He predicted that some Democrats would engage in “performance art” around the address, which would only encourage Hamas.

“I don’t know why you would not allow the leader of our dear ally to… We just voted billions [of dollars] of aid. Well, let’s hear from him.”

– US Senator John Fetterman

NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
The Times of Israel

US Senator John Fetterman Visiting Israel: ‘NO TO ANY DEAL THAT LEAVES HAMAS IN POWER…’ | Christian Breaking News!