Democratic megadonor and Hollywood media mogul Haim Saban criticized President Biden's decision to suspend a weapons shipment to Israel because they could be used in an offensive against a densely populated city in southern Gaza.
“Let's not forget that there are more Jewish voters who care about Israel than there are Muslim voters who care about Hamas,” Saban wrote in an email to Biden's top advisers, Steve Ricchetti and Anita Dunn. Axios reported Thursday.
The comments drew condemnation from American Muslim leaders, who described Saban's email as “unhinged, hateful and petulant” and “virulently anti-Muslim.”
“The White House should reject Mr. Saban's threatening email, condemn his message of hate and cut ties with him,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “Megadonors like Haim Saban should have no more access to policymakers or influence over public policy than the average American.”
Biden told CNN on Wednesday that while the United States would continue to support Israel's defense, as it has historically, it would not supply bombs or artillery shells that the Middle Eastern nation could use in an attack on Rafah in the Gaza Strip. More than a million civilians are taking shelter in the southern Gaza city, which is the last major stronghold of Hamas, the militant group that carried out the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Biden's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated the president's stance Thursday.
“What the president made clear on CNN is that we do not want to provide material support to such an operation,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “We have withheld a shipment of high payload unguided munitions and discussed with Israel all concerns about its use in dense urban environments.
The debate over the arms shipment reflects a growing and wider gap between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's response to the October 7 attack and the attempt to defeat Hamas amid demands for to limit civilian casualties in Gaza.
It takes place during an election year in which Biden is in a tight race with former President Trump. Jewish and Muslim Americans are part of the Democratic coalition that Biden needs to keep intact to win re-election, particularly in states like Michigan.
Saban, an Israeli-American billionaire who hosted Biden's last Southern California fundraiser at his sprawling Beverly Park estate in February, reacted to Biden's comments by urging Dunn and Ricchetti to send their message to the president.
In his email, Saban wrote that Biden's decision to stop sending ammunition to Israel “sends a terrible message to our allies in the region” and shows that the United States “can stop doing the right thing.” [thing] to give in to political pressure.”
He urged the president to reconsider his decision, which he called “bad… on every level,” and closed with “Thank you. With respect.”
Saban did not respond to a request for comment.
