From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Biden says US commitment to Israel’s security is ‘ironclad’ in the face of Iran
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Joe Biden says Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security is “ironclad” in the face of threats from Iran.
Speaking at a White House press conference alongside visiting Japanese Prime Minister Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Biden says, “We also addressed the Iranian threat, as they threaten to launch a significant attack on Israel. As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again, ironclad. We’re going to do all we can to protect Israel’s security.”
The comments come amid growing strains in US-Israel ties and a day after the airing of an interview taped last week in which Biden urged Israel to agree to a weeks-long ceasefire in Gaza. Biden didn’t mention the hostages, but the White House said afterward that he was referring to the truce deal currently being negotiated during which the Israeli abductees would be released by Hamas.
