At a time when there is a bloody conflict in the Middle East that threatens to erupt into a broader war, questions are being raised about Rubio’s position on Israel and Iran, as the former launches violent attacks on… Gaza Strip And Lebanon, amid fears of open war with the latter.
Rubio, a senator since 2011, is described as a “traditional foreign policy hawk,” according to the Washington Post, as he “built his political identity around supporting the overthrow of hardline governments, from Latin America to the Middle East to Asia.”
What is his view of US foreign policy, especially regarding Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon and the escalation with Iran?
A strong supporter of Netanyahu
On the Israeli issue, the senator repeatedly expressed his support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and for his military action against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and accused President Joe Biden’s administration of “not doing enough to support its ally.”
Description Rubio Israel’s war in Gaza is described as being conducted “with foresight and justice,” as it seeks “to destroy the terrorist organization so that it does not threaten the people of Israel again,” in reference to the Hamas movement.
A month into the war, Rubio said he would not call for a ceasefire in Gaza. “On the contrary, I want them to destroy every Hamas element they can get their hands on. These people are ferocious animals who have committed horrific crimes.”
He also condemned the decisions of some Western allies to suspend or restrict arms exports to Israel due to potential violations of international humanitarian law, as “undermining its ability to defend itself.”
After the US State Department imposed sanctions in August on Israeli entities that it said were involved in “extremist settler violence” in the occupied West Bank, Rubio said that the State Department was “undermining an American ally,” and wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, saying: “Israelis who live by right In their historic homeland, they are not an obstacle to peace. The Palestinians are the obstacle.”
More hostile to Iran
In the same context, Rubio has strong hostility towards Tehran, and has previously described the “Iranian regime” as “terrorist.”
Last February, he said, “The rise of an axis led by China, Russia, and Iran is the greatest geopolitical threat to the United States.”
In a statement issued on October 1, after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at… IsraelRubio said he supports “Israel’s right to respond disproportionately to stop this threat,” without specifying what that might entail.
He said: “Without Iran, there is no Hamas. Without Iran, there is no Hezbollah.”
Royo added in a television interview a few days ago: “Without Iran“There will be no Shiite militias attacking us from Iraq and Syria,” he said, adding that the Trump administration would be “very clear and very firm” in dealing with Iran, and accused the Biden-led White House of being lenient with Tehran.
