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Hollywood media mogul and Democratic mega-donor Haim Saban turns on Biden for halting weapon shipments to Israel: 'Terrible message to our allies'

6 months ago 24
  • Hollywood media mogul Haim Saban is one of the Democrats' biggest donors
  • He slammed Biden for pausing arms shipments to Israel 
  • He added that the move sent a 'terrible message' to US allies 

By Perkin Amalaraj

Published: 10:55 BST, 10 May 2024 | Updated: 10:59 BST, 10 May 2024

Democractic mega-donor and Hollywood mogul Haim Saban has slammed President Joe Biden for halting a shipment of weapons to Israel

Biden halted a shipment of 3,500 bombs to Israel last week, and said on Wednesday that he was happy to pause more arm shipments if Benjamin Netanyahu launches a full-scale invasion against Rafah, the last-standing city of the Gaza Strip. 

But Hollywood media mogul Haim Saban, one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, attacked Biden's combative stance. 

In an email to Biden aides Steve Ricchetti and Anita Dunn, Axios reported, former IDF soldier Saban said: 'Let's not forget that there are more Jewish voters, who care about Israel, than Muslims voters that care about Hamas.' 

Saban, estimated to be worth $2.8billion, described Biden's decision as 'bad... on all levels', adding that it 'sends a terrible message to our allies in the region, and beyond, that we can flip from doing the right thing to bending to political pressure.'

Saban, who has donated and raised millions of dollars for the Democratic party, ramped up his campaign spending in the last six weeks of the 2020 election, after staying out of the race. 

Hollywood media mogul Haim Saban (pictured), one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, attacked Biden's combative stance

Saban sent the email to Biden aides Steve Ricchetti and Anita Dunn

In one virtual fundraising event that year, he raised $4.5million after selling tickets for half a million dollars each. 

During the 2016 race, which Hillary Clinton lost against Donald Trump, he gave more than $16million to the Democratic Party.

He has consistently said in media interviews: 'I'm a one-issue guy, and my issue is Israel.' 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu minister said Thursday that his country will 'stand alone' if it has to in its war against Hamas after President Joe Biden said the U.S. would not provide offensive weapons for Israel's long-promised assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

'If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails,' he said. 'But we have much more than fingernails.'

Netanyahu's comments come amid a deepening crisis in relations with the United States.

Israel says that Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza, and Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to invade the city despite widespread international opposition due to concerns over the more than 1 million Palestinian civilians huddled in the city.

Biden's comments about providing weapons were the latest sign of steadily deteriorating relations between Israel and its closest and most important ally after seven months of Israel's war against Hamas.

The Israeli leader vowed to destroy Hamas after its October 7 rampage in southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and some 250 were captured and taken hostage.

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