Pompeo and Blinken Offer Competing Visions for Middle East at Washington Forum

In their first joint public appearance since leaving office, former US Secretaries of State Mike Pompeo and Antony Blinken presented competing visions for Middle East policy and the war in Iran at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington. Blinken rejected accusations that Israel deliberately targeted Palestinian civilians during the Gaza war, stating that while the military objective was Hamas, too many civilians suffered.

"The target was Hamas, and unfortunately, too many people got caught in the middle and suffered terribly as a result," Blinken said. He added that while there was sometimes a minimum effort to prevent civilian harm, it fundamentally differed from an intent to destroy. Addressing US military aid, Blinken noted a growing recognition within the Israeli government toward economic self-reliance, while emphasizing the imperative of a two-state solution featuring a secure Israel and a sovereign Palestine.

Pompeo advocated for sustained maximum pressure on Iran and Hamas, rejecting the idea of concessions. "Hamas is not going to give up its weapons. Therefore, keep applying pressure there," Pompeo stated. He also praised Israeli intelligence cooperation, revealing that Israeli agencies have assisted in countering threats to his own safety, and lauded Israel as an indispensable strategic partner for the United States.

Both former officials expressed deep concern over the role of social media platforms in fueling antisemitism. Blinken warned of coordinated bot networks and online content radicalizing vulnerable individuals, while Pompeo pointed to covert influence operations by foreign actors such as Russia and China aimed at discrediting Israel globally.