Antony Blinken set on fire by journalists in the middle of a press conference

No respite for controversies and invectives about Israel. Antony Blinken, the American Secretary of State, paid the price on Thursday January 16, when two journalists interrupted his last press conference.

In a video published by the Associated Press, we see a first man, telephone in hand, accusing the head of American diplomacy of submitting to Israel. “You are waving a white flag in front of Israeli fascists!”he says, before immediately continuing: “Your father-in-law was an Israeli lobbyist. Your grandfather was an Israeli lobbyist. Are you compromised with Israel? Under the cautious gaze of Antony Blinken, the man is pushed towards the exit by security.

But a few moments later, a second, older man interrupted the Secretary of State’s speech. Despite the service’s requests for silence, the man shouts: “Everyone, everyone, since Amnesty International until the International Court of Justicesays that Israel is committing genocide and extermination! And you’re telling me to wait to ask my questions?” “Criminal!”castigates the journalist in the arms of the police.

Even outside the room, he continues his accusation. “Why aren’t you in The Hague?”he shouts three times, in reference to the Dutch city which houses the judicial bodies of the United Nations, namely the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The latter is, among other things, responsible for judging genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Real differences with Israel”

In response to the two journalists’ accusations, Antony Blinken reiterated his support for Israel and the hostages still held. But he assured that this was not blind military and financial support for Israeli policy. “We have real differences” on the defense of Israel, “and we have clearly expressed them at various times”underlined the Secretary of State. Since the attacks of October 7, he has traveled to the Middle East twelve times to try to obtain a cease-fire.

More, “we mostly did this in private, precisely because we did not want to feed Hamas’ view that if the pressure increased and it was daylight, there was nothing they could do”he insisted. «[Le Hamas] could refuse to engage in negotiations, delay the ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and thus perpetuate the suffering, the loss for the people he is supposed to represent”added Antony Blinken. This is now done, if both parties keep their respective commitments.