The next is a transcript of an interview with Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Dec. 1, 2024.
MAJOR GARRETT: We’re joined now by President Biden’s Nationwide Safety Advisor, Jake Sullivan. He’s in Newcastle, New Hampshire this morning. Jake, good morning. It is good to see you. The Hamas video launch of Edan Alexander, I do know the administration regards it as a merciless propagandistic maneuver, however do you detect something tactical in any respect within the timing of the discharge of this video, Jake?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Properly Main, first, thanks for having me. And so far as this video, it’s a merciless reminder of the barbarity and the brutality of Hamas holding so many harmless individuals hostage, together with Individuals, together with Edan. We have been in contact with Edan’s household yesterday. I will be speaking to the households of all the American hostages, together with Edan’s household this week. And I do suppose that Hamas is feeling the strain. They’re feeling the strain as a result of considered one of their major companions in crime right here, Hezbollah, has now reduce a ceasefire deal, and so they thought that Hezbollah can be with them until the tip. They’re feeling the strain, after all, as a result of their high chief, Sinwar, has been killed. So, they could be trying anew at the potential for getting a ceasefire and hostage deal. And we’re working actively with all the key gamers within the area, together with Israel and Turkey and Qatar and Egypt, to attempt to convey that about. Within the coming days, conversations will likely be occurring, even this very day, to attempt to make that occur as quickly as potential.
MAJOR GARRETT: Jake, it has been reported that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a dialog with Edan’s household, mentioned, quote, circumstances are ripe, unquote, for a hostage deal. How do you assess that?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Properly, we’ve been working intently with the Israelis since President Biden went out into the Rose Backyard and introduced the ceasefire with- throughout the border between Israel and Lebanon, and what President Biden mentioned was this opens an actual alternative to get that ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. He additionally spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu that day, and Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed him he agreed, the time is correct. The second is now. Let’s drive to get it carried out. And now, if the world can come collectively to extend the strain on Hamas, we will lastly break by means of, get a deal in place, get a ceasefire, get a surge of humanitarian help, and crucially, get these hostages, together with these Individuals, residence safely to their households.
MAJOR GARRETT: And what have the weekend talks in Egypt instructed you concerning the prospects for that?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Look you’ll be able to by no means actually inform about whether or not you are going to get throughout the end line till you do, even in case you get right down to the 5,4,3,2,1, yard line. Punching it in, getting the deal, lastly getting it carried out, that requires the final word breakthrough. So I can not predict whether or not it’ll occur. What I can say is, there was progress. There have been steps ahead. There’s a renewed sense that that is potential, however we have been right here earlier than Main the place we thought we have been shut, it did not pan out. And so I am not going to get forward of myself or make any predictions or present false hope. What I’ll say is, we’re driving at this with all the pieces we have. We predict we’ve an opportunity, however we can’t relaxation till we get it carried out.
MAJOR GARRETT: The destiny of the hostages, after all, on the administration’s thoughts, on the minds of all Individuals and all within the area, but additionally Jake, I am certain you noticed over the past couple of days the video from Gaza of Palestinians surging to attempt to get a loaf of bread, in some instances, crushing each other unintentionally. All solutions are that the humanitarian scenario there is- if it already is not previous disaster stage, close to famine disaster stage. How a lot does that intensify the necessity to get this factor throughout, as you simply mentioned, the end line?
JAKE SULLIVAN: The humanitarian scenario in Gaza is a disaster. You could have too many people who find themselves affected by shortages of meals, water, drugs, entry to sanitation. Harmless individuals who deserve a measure of peace and deserve entry to all of these life saving provides in abundance. The US has been working week in, week out, month in, month out, to open crossings, to maneuver vehicles, to make sure that humanitarian assist will get in. And at essential moments, we’ve been capable of intervene in ways in which have staved off the worst case situations of famine. Nevertheless it’s continuously stalking Gaza, and so extra must be carried out to get assist in. Now, a part of the issue, as we have seen simply within the final 24 hours, will not be truly transferring assist from exterior Gaza into Gaza, however transferring it round Gaza as soon as it is inside. The UN, in actual fact, mentioned it was suspending motion from sure areas of Gaza due to considerations about looting. These are all issues that will be helped if there have been a ceasefire in place. As a result of with a ceasefire, with calm in Gaza, it turns into that rather more simple to maneuver the help across the strip in order that it could possibly get to individuals, together with to people who find themselves at present in areas which are experiencing very heavy battle. So one of many key issues that we wish to obtain on this stop fireplace deal is the surge of humanitarian assist to associate with the discharge of the hostages.
MAJOR GARRETT: Jake is the likelihood of a ceasefire enhanced or undercut when somebody akin to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham says, President elect Trump needs a stop fireplace earlier than inauguration deal. Does that make it easier to or damage you?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Look, I feel the important thing actor proper now holding the choice on the stop fireplace is Hamas. And the important thing factor motivating Hamas will not be American politics or the American presidential transition, it is their willpower about whether or not or not it is sensible for them at this level, after Hezbollah has deserted them, after their chief has been killed, after their army formations have been degraded, to lastly say sure to a ceasefire and hostage deal. That is going to be the telling factor, greater than something that is mentioned again right here. However I’ll say this, there was superb coordination between our crew and the incoming crew on all the facets of the disaster within the Center East. We felt it was necessary that we be in contact with them, to maintain them on top of things on what’s occurring, as a result of this handoff has acquired to be clean, and so they, in flip, have reciprocated by being open and clear and dealing with us. That is the way it needs to be in a transition. That is what we’ll maintain driving for for daily that we’ve left in workplace.
MAJOR GARRETT: Jake, I need to have a dialog with you about leverage as regards the Israeli authorities. I need to play for you one thing that Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen mentioned on this program every week in the past. Let’s hear.
[SEN. VAN HOLLEN SOT]
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: We have seen this sample the place President Biden makes calls for of Prime Minister Netanyahu, solely to be ignored or slapped down fully. After which President Biden sends extra bombs and more cash. That’s not an efficient use of leverage.
[END SOT]
MAJOR GARRETT: Your response?
JAKE SULLIVAN: To start with, I respect Senator Van Hollen. He is aware of these points in addition to any individual in Washington, and he’s captivated with them. However after all, we’ve a distinct perspective. We’ve got, at numerous factors over the course of this battle, made asks of the Israelis per our values and our pursuits. Have we gotten all the pieces we requested for? No. Have we seen a change in Israeli conduct, with respect to the motion of humanitarian help, with respect to how they performed sure army operations, together with in locations like Rafah? Sure, we’ve. And so we do consider that we have had a constructive engagement with the Israeli authorities and in addition been capable of make a distinction on the bottom with respect to the circulation of humanitarian assist. As well as, we labored intently with the Israeli authorities to convey a couple of ceasefire in Lebanon, a ceasefire individuals mentioned wasn’t potential till a brand new administration took workplace. And in reality, the truth that we have been in a position to try this says loads about our potential to work with the Israeli authorities to generate an consequence, together with one which has many political detractors contained in the Israeli system. So we’ll maintain at it each single day. I respect voices like Senator Van Hollen. I stay up for persevering with to work with him. However after all, we see issues a distinct approach.
MAJOR GARRETT: Jake, I need to flip your consideration to Ukraine, the place the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy appeared to point in a current interview that he might probably be open to a peace settlement by which Russia retains the territory it has. Ukraine, which means Kyiv retains all the remaining, if that’s swiftly introduced beneath the umbrella of NATO. Is that the define or the contours of one thing you believe- the administration believes may very well be workable?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Properly, Main, I am sorry to disappoint you. I can not negotiate in public in your program, and I definitely cannot negotiate on behalf of President Zelensky, who actually ought to communicate for himself in relation to the future of his nation. The way forward for Ukraine needs to be decided on the negotiating desk by selections of the Ukrainians not imposed from the skin by america or anyone else. I’ll say although, that we’ve been partaking with Ukrainians over the course of this yr on the way you marry the assist we offered them to be used on the battlefield with a diplomatic technique for the negotiating desk. And we have been driving in direction of that earlier than the election, we proceed to drive at it, and finally, the brand new crew should work with President Zelensky to find out the diplomatic approach ahead.
MAJOR GARRETT: And a few current selections within the administration have been criticized by Republicans as setting the scenario on fireplace, which means ATACMS and anti-personnel mines. These advocates for Ukraine say these selections are approach too late to vary the battle area in any strategically necessary approach. The place do you come down?
JAKE SULLIVAN: Look what President Biden has carried out at essential moments within the battle, is attempt to present Ukraine with the instruments that it must succeed. Anti-personnel land mines, that are non persistent mines that shut off after two weeks, so they do not signify a long run risk to civilians. These may very well be useful in opposition to the actual sort of ways that the Russian infantry is utilizing proper now in japanese Ukraine. So he is sending them. The ATACMS permission into Russian territory. That was a choice he took after Russia escalated by introducing North Korean troops into this warfare, a overseas military into this warfare. In order that was a accountable, coordinated step that we took with different allies to reply to that provocation, to that escalation by Russia. The President has been clear all alongside. We’re going to give Ukraine the instruments it wants. We’re additionally going to do what we will to place them in the very best place on the battlefield, so that they’ll be in the very best place on the negotiating desk, after which that this warfare will finally finish in diplomacy.
MAJOR GARRETT: Nationwide Safety Advisor, Jake Sullivan. Thanks a lot in your time.
JAKE SULLIVAN: Thanks.
MAJOR GARRETT: And we’ll be proper again with much more “Face the Nation.” Please stick with us.
