Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, spoke with CNN’s Jake Tapper in a candid interview, highlighting the extraordinary challenges facing the IDF and the complex ethical considerations shaping Israel’s military strategy.
“You got to ask yourself a question,” Leiter said. “A country that’s capable of taking out the control of all of Iranian airspace in 72 hours, allowing for the B-2s of the United States to come in and obliterate the nuclear weapons operations in Iran, is not capable of ending this war sooner? Of course we are. But it’s because we’re taking precautions that no other country has ever taken, had to face a situation of 450 miles of terror tunnels under an area that’s 24 miles long.”
Leiter described Hamas as a “ghoulish, fiendish organization,” emphasizing that it deliberately places civilians in harm’s way while exploiting them as human shields. “They enjoy this. This is a death cult. They say this. You have to read their stuff,” he said, referring to Hamas’s own words and propaganda.
The ambassador became emotional when discussing his personal loss during the conflict, revealing that his son, Moshe, was killed in the early days of the war. “We do everything we possibly can. My own son was killed because we do not kill innocent civilians. He went in on foot into Gaza and led the troops at the beginning of the war and was killed when he went into a Hamas booby trap.”
Leiter also responded to criticisms of Israel’s military tactics, suggesting that if Israel had operated without its current restrictions, fewer soldiers might have been lost. “If we were doing what we’re being accused of doing, maybe he’d be alive today. So many of our soldiers that have died would have been alive today.”
Addressing recent images of anti-war protests, Leiter stressed that the demonstrations represent a divided sentiment in Israel rather than a single prevailing view. “The demonstrations you showed are only half of the demonstrations. The other half of the demonstrations are families of soldiers who are saying to the Prime Minister, you have to end this war with the defeat of Hamas, because otherwise we’re going back to October 6th.”
This elitist leftist leadership in the army and Supreme Court as well the attorney general machshefa care more about Gaza civilians than the young soldiers being killed. Now they want the Chareidim to be used as canon fater. No way. They could have won this war in no time had they just stopped giving food and fuel. They should have banned all reporters who are all anti Israel anyway. Cut all internet. No brained.
If only you’d be a minister in the Israeli government and be the first to stand by your word.
Your comment is blatheringly irrelevant to this article. Are you a bot or just illiterate??? The man’s own son was killed in this war. He despises the Gaza leadership and what it has done to Israel. He is doing his job to advocate against their evil hatred.
I have 2 sons in the IDF right now, one who was called up on Oct 7th.
Believe me, every word Heimish wrote is the truth.
My son lost 4 friends in blow (and 2 permanently crippled) when an IDF tank fired at them due to a misunderstanding and miscommunication. This kind of thing happens a lot and it’s the fault of the top brass, not the soldiers.
Also, there are no innocent civilians in Gaza, so it’s even more disturbing that Leiter’s son was killed protecting these bloodthirsty barbarians.
The top brass of the IDF does not care about sacrificing its soldiers, it even seems psychopathically happy to do so – and that is the bitter and unforgivable truth.