10.24.23

Sullivan Reiterates "No Moral Equivalence" Between Hamas’ Barbaric Actions, Israel's Self-Defense

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), just hours after returning to the United States from a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to Israel, told Harris Faulkner on Fox News Channel today that he is calling on Israel to release the horrific videos filmed by Hamas terrorists. Sullivan added it is important to show the world there is no moral equivalence between the terrorist group’s barbaric actions and Israel’s right to defend its very existence.

“[Visiting Israel] underscored my commitment, and every senator on that CODEL that I was just with, our commitment to stand with Israel, to enable them to defend their country, to literally defend their existence,” Senator Sullivan said during his interview. “I met with families of hostages. We got very detailed briefings, including videos, unbelievable videos taken by these terrorists, Hamas terrorists, showing them killing, and chopping up people. It was just hard to even look at what we were seeing. I encourage the Israelis to get that out to the world. Where's the moral outrage? What I'm concerned about on a whole host of fronts is, number one, just watch our media. Watch the media around the world. They're already saying “moral equivalence.” There's no moral equivalence here. You had a rampage of thousands of terrorists who were purposely trying to kill civilians. There needs to be outrage on that.”

The Senator also discussed Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks to the United Nations made this morning and the Biden administration’s failed policy of appeasing Iran. Click here to watch the full interview or below to watch excerpts from the interview.

Sullivan: At U.N., Blinken Missed Opportunity to Restore Deterrence

DAN SULLIVAN: The Biden administration has been reluctant to mention Iran. But right there in front of the U.N., two days ago, the U.N. lifted its sanctions on ballistic missiles on Iran. Why didn't the secretary just now say, let's put that regime back in place?

HARRIS FAULKNER: That's a great point. That's a great point.

SULLIVAN: There you go. The U.N. just lifted sanctions. The Houthis, who are attacking Israel, a proxy of Iran, is shooting missiles that they're getting from Iran. Hamas gets its missiles from Iran. Hezbollah gets its missiles from Iran. And right then the U.N. two days ago lifted sanctions on ballistic missiles from Iran. This underscores a bigger problem. The discussions on Iran, they're starting to name Iran. That's positive. But with this administration, it has to be actions. It has to be actions to be tough on Iran, because the Biden administration, like the Obama administration, had an undeniable strategy of appeasement with regard to Iran. If you want me to go through the list, I will, Harris. Hopefully they're going to finally recognize this fever dream of the Democrats to appease Iran has to stop.

Sullivan: Israelis Need to Show the World There Is No Moral Equivalence to Hamas’ Actions

SULLIVAN: Just getting back from Israel and actually Saudi Arabia and Egypt with a CODEL, I can tell you, in Israel, I was in a country that's shocked, that's outraged, that is in deep, deep grief. But there's also a huge sense of vulnerability that probably hasn't happened in Israel since any time since the Holocaust when you think about it, which was pre-Israel.

So, Harris, it certainly underscored my commitment, and every senator on that CODEL that I was just with, our commitment to stand with Israel, to enable them to defend their country, to literally defend their existence.

And I think one thing that Secretary Blinken said just now, which I would agree with is, where is the moral outrage? I met with families of hostages. We got very detailed briefings, including videos, unbelievable videos taken by these terrorists, Hamas terrorists, showing them killing, chopping up people. It was just hard to even look at what we were seeing. I encourage the Israelis to get that out to the world. Where's the moral outrage? What I'm concerned about on a whole host of fronts is, number one, just watch our media. Watch the media around the world. They're already saying “moral equivalence.” There's no moral equivalence here. You had a rampage of thousands of terrorists who were purposely trying to kill civilians. There needs to be outrage on that.

Sullivan: The Malign Influence of Iran is Everywhere

SULLIVAN: The malign influence of Iran is everywhere. Every leader that we met with started with this. There is no doubt that Iran ultimately was behind this. Remember, there's no Hamas without Iran. There's no Hezbollah without Iran. They fund them. They train them. They supply them. That is a fact.

And so, what happened at the beginning of the Biden administration, after the Trump administration, to its credit, reestablished deterrence by killing the Iranians’ top terrorist, the Quds Force Commander Soleimani. But also, the Trump administration launched a peace initiative—the Abraham Accords, which was having a tremendously positive impact on the region. Guess who hated the peace breaking out in the Middle East? Iran. A big part of what happened here with regard to Hamas’ brutality against Israel was also Iran's attempt to stop the peace in the region. They hated that. And the Biden administration came in, undid all of the tough sanctions on Iran, and have essentially allowed oil to be exported. You saw this $6 billion hostage deal. It has to stop.

###