Defeating Hamas Despite the Pressure // A conversation with Danny Danon

There have been some growing tensions between the United States and Israel. How unusual is this?
This would not be the first time that there is some tension. That happens in every relationship, and it’s legitimate. We appreciate the support of the US. I think that they want us to win the war, but on the other hand, we sometimes see them tying our hands behind our backs. It’s impossible to win the war that way. We have to stay polite and keep channels open with our allies, but we have to do whatever is necessary to protect our interests, security and safety, which means that we have to do whatever it takes to eradicate Hamas.

If Israel goes it alone and defies the US, that probably weakens Israeli morale when fighting Hamas. That they don’t have the full support of the US can in and of itself be a weakening aspect. Would you agree with that?
It’s unfortunate when you see statements calling for a ceasefire or similar words coming from DC, especially because you know that European capitals will be very quick to follow. The messages that we were sent at the beginning of the war were very encouraging. Today we’re hearing a different tone, but we are determined to do whatever it takes to win this war. When you look at history, there were a number of times when US administrations were skeptical about what we were doing, but later on they realized that we made the right decision.