President Joe Biden speaks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 11, 2024. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh April 16, 2024

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a closed meeting with a dozen American Jewish leaders Tuesday, addressed concerns raised by some in the group that the U.S. is airing its disagreements with Israel too publicly, and reinforcing impressions that the divide between the nations is growing.

The meeting was described by three in attendance who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity, because the discussion was private. Blinken, who is Jewish, reportedly told them that some disagreements over Gaza demanded public comment, and that Israel has itself aired points of contention.

The meeting included representatives of major Jewish organizations including the Jewish Federations of North America, the Orthodox Union, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the National Council for Jewish Women, as well as the pro-Israel groups AIPAC and J Street. The meeting was first reported by Axios and Jewish Insider.

U.S.-Israeli relations have deteriorated precipitously in recent weeks over the war in Gaza, with President Joe Biden lambasting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to protect Palestinian civilians and preventing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden has also told Netanyahu that the U.S would not participate in a counterattack against Iran in response to the more than 330 missiles and drones it fired at Israel on Saturday — and urged restraint.

The Iranian attack — and U.S. help to repel it — has blunted some of the sharper edges U.S.-Israeli relations. Blinken said U.S. assistance should be interpreted as evidence of strong American support for Israel, which has expressed gratitude.

But the Jewish leaders said they worry common enemies like Iran and Hezbollah could perceive obvious friction as a lack of U.S. commitment to Israel’s security, and that it could more generally erode Israel’s standing among nations.

Blinken, the sources said, nodded as they spoke and seemed to take their point that a united front helps both countries. But they also said that Blinken suggested Israeli officials have leaked more than U.S. officials when it comes to differences between the countries. 

The Tuesday meeting had been planned before Iran’s Saturday attack. Blinken served as Biden’s channel for Jewish and pro-Israel organizations during the 2020 presidential campaign. Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. envoy to combat antisemitism, also attended.

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