John Fetterman meets Bibi in his hoodie: Netanyahu says there is ‘no better friend for Israel’ and praises Democrat for ‘saying it like it is’ in the face of fury from fellow progressives
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a hoodie-and-shorts-clad Senator John Fetterman at their meeting in Israel on Wednesday for saying it was “the way it is.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat has been an outspoken supporter of Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack, much to the dismay of his former progressive fans.
“Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman. Senator, welcome to Israel. “I want to thank you for your courageous statements that demonstrate moral clarity and moral courage, and you just tell it like it is,” Netanyahu said.
Fetterman responded, “We stand with Israel through this, and I’m so sorry for what was done to this country, but it’s just an honor to be here today.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a hoodie-and-shorts-clad Senator John Fetterman at their meeting in Israel on Wednesday for saying it was “the way it is.”
The senator also wore a special bracelet given to him by families of victims killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival.
On Tuesday, he told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that he would not remove the bracelet until all hostages held by Hamas were returned.
Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to accept a ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages. Some critics have accused him of deliberately prolonging the war to delay elections that could lead to his ouster.
Pro-Israel voices won a victory in Congress on Tuesday with Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s loss in his primary against George Latimer.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has poured $15 million into the race against Bowman, an outspoken Israel critic.
The Pennsylvania Democrat has been an outspoken supporter of Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack, much to the dismay of his former progressive fans.
“Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman. Senator, welcome to Israel. “I want to thank you for your courageous statements that demonstrate moral clarity and moral courage, and you just tell it like it is,” Netanyahu said.
Last month, Fetterman received a standing ovation at Yeshiva’s commencement ceremony when he publicly disaffiliated from his alma mater Harvard.
“I was thinking about the last time I graduated and that was literally a quarter century ago, 25 years ago,” he told a crowd of graduates. “I graduated from Harvard University, but today I am deeply disappointed by Harvard’s failure to stand up for the Jewish community.”
“For me personally, I don’t think it’s right for me to wear this today,” he added, removing his crimson hood. The audience gasped audibly before a standing ovation followed.
Fetterman graduated from Harvard’s Kennedy School in 1999 with a Masters of Public Policy.