Twice since the Israeli war with Hamas began, Joe Biden falsely claimed that he met with Golda Meir just before the 1967 Six-Day War. However, Biden’s story was a lie. Levi Eshkol was Prime Minister until Feb. 1969, when he had a fatal heart attack. Golda Meir became PM a month later, in March 1969, a year and 8 months after the Six-Day War. President Biden got his law degree in 1968 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1969, almost two years after the Six-Day War.
During the Israeli war to protect herself against Hamas, President Biden has been an excellent ally of Israel, but there are reasons to wonder how long that will last. During his Senate career, Biden was not a great friend. He even refused to participate in easy ways to look pro-Israel. He refused to sign his name to non-binding pro-Israel letters most of his senate colleagues supported.
As a young senator, Biden did get some time with an Israel Prime Minister.
On June 22, 1982, PM Menachem Begin testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
During that committee hearing, at the height of the Lebanon War, Sen. John Biden (Delaware) had attacked Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and threatened that if Israel did not immediately cease this activity, the US would have to cut economic aid to Israel.
“Don’t threaten us with cutting off your aid. It will not work. I am not a Jew with trembling knees. I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when we were striving to create our country. We paid for it. We fought for it. We died for it. We will stand by our principles. We will defend them. And, when necessary, we will die for them again, with or without your aid.”
When Begin said, “Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens.” He wasn’t talking about the American heroes and those of our allies who put their lives on the line or lost their lives fighting Hitler. He discussed that FDR could have saved up to 200,000 of Hitler’s victims but didn’t want more Jews in the US. Churchill could have saved tens of thousands but lacked the courage.
Not learning his lesson, Senator Biden Senator raised his voice at Begin and banged twice on the table. Begin responded.
“This desk is designed for writing, not for fists. Don’t threaten us with slashing aid. Do you think that because the US lends us money it is entitled to impose on us what we must do? We are grateful for the assistance we have received, but we are not to be threatened. I am a proud Jew. Three thousand years of culture are behind me, and you will not frighten me with threats. Take note: we do not want a single soldier of yours to die for us.”
The NY Times reported on the aftermath of the meeting
After the meeting, Mr. Begin said: ”I enjoyed the session very much. I believe in liberty, that free men should freely discuss problems and if they have differences of opinion they should voice them in sincerity.”
”I said it was a lively discussion,” he said. ”If you want to use other adjectives. …” He paused, then said, ”Lively is enough.”
Biden fe began his Presidency by selecting Israeli haters and/or Iran apologists to join his team.
However, since October 7, 2023, the war with Hamas, Biden changed his opinion about the Jewish State. So far, the war has been a great friend of Israel. Changed his policy, not just the speeches but also arms, warships, and other military equipment. Next year, in Nov. 2024, there will be a Presidential election in the United States. It is expected to be close, perhaps, even less than one percent. Will Biden change his pro-Israel strategy to solidify the support of his supporters, will he be the man who banged his desk attempting to intimidate Menachem Begin, or will he remain the Joe Biden he’s been since October 7? Well, we will know soon.
