Nikki Haley, a former Republican presidential candidate and UN ambassador during the Trump administration, wrote “Finish them off” on an artillery shell in Israel this week.
Danny Danon, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and member of the Israeli Parliament, shared a photo on social media on Tuesday showing Ms. Haley signing the typo. His visit comes just days after Israel drew international condemnation for a strike that killed dozens of Gaza civilians in a camp for displaced Palestinians.
“This is what my friend, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, wrote on a shell today during a visit to an artillery post on the northern border,” Mr. Danon wrote, saying about the Israeli army: “IDF will win!” »
MS. Haley – who also met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet member Benny Gantz – ended his entry with a note that “America still loves Israel,” using a heart emoji for “like”.
His post drew denunciations from some commentators, including author and columnist Wajahat Ali, who said in a TikTok video: “If you think Biden and the Democrats are terrible in Gaza – I think they have been terrible – just know that the Republicans will. much, much worse, and I give you Nikki Haley.
In an interview published Tuesday by the Israel Hayom newspaper, which is owned by Republican donor Miriam Adelson, Ms. Haley said Israel had done nothing wrong in its invasion and bombing of Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October. 7, killing approximately 1,200 people. And she said the United States should continue to support it unconditionally.
“Israel are the good guys,” she said. “And you know what I want Israelis to know? You are doing the right thing. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad.
Israeli military operations have killed more than 36,000 Gazans, including thousands of women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Many of the casualties, including those at the tent camp on Sunday, were caused by U.S.-supplied bombs. President Biden recently refused a shipment of weapons, fearing they could be used in an offensive against the city of Rafah, where displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Asked in the Israel Hayom interview about civilians who entered Israel during the month of October. 7 attacks, she said: “The rest of the world can’t say, ‘Oh, be nice to the Palestinians,’ when these are some of the ones who murdered their brothers and sisters. She added: “They don’t know who to trust. This is not Israel’s fault. It’s now the Palestinians’ fault.”
MS. Haley’s comments are consistent with her history of support for Israel and her rejection of international criticism of her actions. As U.N. ambassador, she accused the United Nations of “bullying” Israel and led the United States to withdraw funding from an agency that helps Palestinian refugees.
She recently fell behind Mr. Trump after refusing to support him, and Mr. Trump suggested he might bring her into his team “in some form or another.”