U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 9, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Joe Biden defended his support for Israel in a recent interview, referring to himself as a “Zionist” and painting an optimistic vision for the future of Israel and its Arab neighbors.

In a sit-down with Complex’s Speedy Morman, Biden was grilled over his relationship with Israel and whether he believes his support for the Jewish state will cost him votes among Arab and Muslim Americans. 

“Back in April, $26 million in aid was sent, or approved to be sent to Israel. Why?” Morman asked.

“I said defensive weapons,” Biden clarified, “I denied them offensive weapons that they were using, 2,000 lb. bombs and the rest.”

“I made it real clear they cannot use weapons that we provide them to use in civilian areas,” Biden continued. 

In May, the White House paused shipments of 2,000 lb. bombs to Israel, citing concern over the Jewish state’s military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The decision to halt the transfer of heavy-duty offensive weapons sparked outrage among Israeli officials, which insisted that extensive military operations in Rafah are necessary to dismantle the remaining Hamas battalions. 

Biden added that American support for the Jewish state is necessary because if Israel’s existence were endangered, “every Jew in the world would be at risk.” He stressed that Jews needed, “a place that was their own” following the horrific genocide of roughly six-million Jews during the Holocaust. 

“You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and a Zionist is about whether or not Israel is a safe haven for Jews because of their history of how they have been persecuted,” Biden said, declaring his support for Jewish statehood. 

The president also outlined his record of supporting Palestinians, claiming he has “done more for” the civilians in Gaza and the West Bank than anyone. 

“I’m the guy that opened up all the assets. I’m the guy that made. . . Egyptians open the border to let goods [such as] medicine and food.,” Biden said to Morman. 

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release tax revenues belonging to the Palestinian Authority (PA), the governing body of the West Bank. Israeli minister of finance Bezalel Smotrich originally withheld the funds from the PA in response to the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Citing concern that the PA would soon collapse, the Biden administration pressed Israel to hand the funds back over. 

Following Israel’s capture of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in early May, Egypt refused to coordinate with Israel on humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza. Egypt demanded that Israel relinquish control of the crossing back to Palestinians. In the face of American pressure, Egypt agreed to allow passage of aid through the Kerem Shalom border crossing. 

“And, I’m the guy that’s been able to pull together the Arab states to help agree to help the Palestinians with food and shelter,” Biden told the interviewer

Though Biden stressed that he has been “supportive of Palestinians” and remains sympathetic to their struggles, he condemned Hamas, the terrorist group that runs Gaza, as a group of “thugs.” 

Biden argued that Arab Americans and Muslim Americans should support his reelection campaign, touting himself as the best choice to achieve “peace” between Israel and its Arab neighbors. 

Biden claimed that Saudi Arabia has promised to recognize Israel in exchange for a guarantee that America will provide them weapons if they are attacked. The president also stated that Saudi Arabia wants a “civilian nuclear facility” to facilitate their transition away from fossil fuels to green energy. 

Biden’s relationship with Israel and the Jewish community has become increasingly more tense in the months following Hamas’ Oct. 7 slaughter of roughly 1200 people in southern Israel. The White House has issued several statements criticizing the Jewish state’s conduct in the Israel-Hamas war, actions which experts argue increases the terrorist group’s leverage. In December, after facing substantial pressure from progressive lawmakers, Biden accused Israel of “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza.

However, Biden has attempted to hold together the bond between Israel and the Democratic Party, a relationship that seems to be rapidly deteriorating. In contrast to left-wing lawmakers such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Rashida Tlaib, Biden has not accused Israel of committing a “genocide” in Gaza. Biden has also defended Israel from accusations by fellow Democrats that is an “apartheid state”, praising the Jewish nation as a “democracy.” He has repeatedly condemned the surge of anti-Israel protests on college campuses and in front of synagogues following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.