President Biden is taking a break while the conflict in Israel and Gaza rages on

 President Biden is taking a break while the conflict in Israel and Gaza rages on

In Washington A White House official started to stop President Joe Biden's Zoom chat with relatives of Americans held captive by Hamas last Friday around 15 minutes into the conversation.

According to one of the family members on the phone, Biden would not agree

'Last time, I checked, I'm the president of the United States,' the president remarked, turning to face him. The father of Itay Chen, a 19-year-old IDF soldier who is a dual US-Israeli citizen and is among the missing, Ruby Chen of Israel, stated, "And this meeting will finish when I say it ends. He really desired to hear from each and every one of us."

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The incident perfectly captured Biden's abrupt transition from a politician whose support for Israel was often questioned by conservative opponents both within and outside the Jewish state to probably the world's most prominent supporter of Israel outside the Middle East at the time.

Even Biden's staunchest detractors in Israel have praised his actions and remarks since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault, which were completed by a dramatic visit to Israel on Wednesday. Biden has shown his support for Israel and promised "unprecedented" military support, and this has won the praise of many.

"Israelis yearned for a father figure who would embrace them and express empathy. Nimrod Novik, a fellow of the Israel Policy Forum and a former foreign policy advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, said that the president did it in a manner that "really touched every Israeli."

Last Monday, an Israeli billboard with the words "Thank you, Mr. President," next to a picture of Biden was put up along a highway in Tel Aviv. When Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, a sign greeted him.

As Israel's own leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has seen his favor in his nation decline in the aftermath of the Hamas assault and Israel's military response, praise for Biden is being showered upon him in that nation.

More than two-thirds of Israelis, according to a Maariv, Lazar Research survey cited by Haaretz, want "someone else" other than Netanyahu to lead the country after the conflict. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, Benny Gantz, the head of Israel's National Unity Party, has seen a rise in his party's popularity.

According to Richard Stengel, a former assistant secretary of state in the Obama presidency, "President Biden is the much more respected leader in Israel than Bibi Netanyahu," within an interview with MSNBC.

'Unique method' in which Israel is responding to Biden's message

Israeli backing for Biden extends to his attempts to free American hostages imprisoned by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, including Itay Chen and an estimated 200 to 250 more Americans.

A staggering 48% of Israelis watched Biden's White House speech last week, during which he referred to the assault as "pure, unadulterated evil" and pledged U.S. military assistance to Israel. Polling on Biden's popularity in Israel after the incident hasn't been made public.

According to Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Organization, a Washington-based think tank, "it was quite remarkable how well that was received by Israel, especially by people on the right wing who were not disposed to like Biden." "It really spoke in Israel in a rather unique way, especially given the management skills vacuum in Israel right now."

On Wednesday, during a brief visit to Israel, Biden met with Netanyahu and the families of hostages and likened the horrors of the Hamas attack—which claimed the lives of more than 1,300 Israelis—to the savagery of the Holocaust.

In a speech from Tel Aviv, Biden remarked, "The world watched then and knew, and the world did nothing." The American and Israeli flags were flying in the background. "We won't be passive once again. not now. not the next day. not at all.

In a warning about "mistakes" the U.S. made after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Biden advised Israelis to "don't be consumed" by their wrath now. Yet it was clear that he supported Israel.

"Terrorists will not prevail, I'm here to tell you. "Freedom will triumph," said Biden. "Israel will be a safe, secure Jewish as well as democratic state today, tomorrow and forever."

Even the hardline Israelis praise Biden

After stepping off Air Force One in Israel, Biden gave Netanyahu a bear embrace.

In Israel, the Israeli prime minister has come under fire for the lax security that enabled the Hamas killing to take place. In response to allegations that he hasn't done enough to rescue the abducted Israelis, Netanyahu met for the first time on Sunday with their families.

In a period of conflict, you are the first American president to travel here, Netanyahu said Biden. "I appreciate it, Mr. President. I appreciate you supporting Israel now, tomorrow, and always.

During his time in office, former President Donald Trump had enormous popularity in Israel. During this time, he also moved the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. While some liberals in Congress pushed to cut off foreign funding to Israel, Trump and other Republicans allied themselves with the Israeli right, driving a gulf between Jews and their long-standing support for Democrats.

Yet conservatives who formerly attacked Biden's foreign policy toward Israel now praise him for his performance during the last week.

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Trump David Friedman posted on X, previously known as Twitter, "In Judaism there is an obligation of 'Hakarat Hatov'"' - giving thanks to people who do good actions. Friedman noted that even while he is still "deeply critical" of the Biden administration, "one of the moral, tactical, diplomatic and armed forces that it has provided Israel over the past couple of weeks has been exceptional."

Conservative Israelis were astounded by Trump's remarks last week, in which he blamed Netanyahu for the Hamas assault and praised Hezbollah officials as "very smart." Since then, many have condemned Trump's comments.

According to Ishay Cohen, a religious conservative Israeli journalist, "every Israeli ought to believe that Biden will continue for a second term," said wrote on X over a video of Trump's statement.

Conservatives in the United States have harshly criticized Biden's behavior. Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Biden for allocating $100 million in U.S. humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

They describe it as 'humanitarian help.' We are aware that Hamas will seize that money and use it to finance terrorism, DeSantis stated. "How are you funding them when they're holding Americans in addition to others hostage?"

Additionally, the Biden administration came under fire from both Republicans and Israelis for a deal to release five American captives from Iran that entailed sending $6 billion to the country for humanitarian reasons.

Republicans criticized the pact, claiming it freed up cash for Tehran to support Hamas' assault, and the U.S. and Qatar allegedly agreed to limit Iran's access to the money last week. According to the Biden administration, there is no proof that Iran was involved in the killing.

Yet the opposition is overshadowed, at least temporarily, by Israel's backing for Biden.

Biden informed family members on a Zoom call last week that "nothing is more important" to him than witnessing the safe return of American hostages, according to Ruby Chen, the father trying to liberate his captive son from Hamas.

A picture of each family member's departed loved one appeared on the president's computer screen as they talked. In the end, the meeting lasted roughly an hour and fifteen minutes.

"It was a very emotional discussion where he also shared some of his personal loss as well as how he copes with it," Ruby Chen said. "But I think simple people like us, having the ruler of the United States spend time with us, it was an extremely touching gesture."