A meeting between high-level Israeli officials and their American counterparts in August reportedly grew heated when National Security Adviser H.R McMaster brushed off Israelis' concerns about Hezbollah – and backed up an aide who believes it is not a terror organization.
According to the PJ Media account, friction between McMaster and the Israeli delegation began with Israel's demand that National Security Council senior director on counter-terrorism Mustafa Javed Ali leave the Aug. 27 meeting at the White House after she denied Hezbollah was a terror group.
The news outlet, citing unnamed sources, reported McMaster dismissed the Israelis' specific concerns about Hezbollah – including a "safe zone" being established within Syria would become a safe zone for Hezbollah – and was "yelling at the Israelis."
The State Department has designated Hezbollah a foreign terrorist organization. According to PJ Media, Ali disagrees with that designation.
Israel considers Hezbollah one of its biggest threats, the online site, Israel National News reported. The outlet reported that in the past week, the Israel Defense Forces' Northern Corps held its biggest drill in 20 years over concerns about the group, which is believed to have 150,000 missiles and advanced weapons.
McMaster has come under fire from the Zionist Organization of America for being hostile to Israel.
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