(7. Januar 2013) Miller said Hagel was only saying what many members of Congress think but do not voice. „Hagel talked about the issue of domestic political pressure. Most sitting senators and congressmen don‘t. But it‘s a fact: the pro-Israeli community or lobby has a powerful voice. It does not have a veto over American policy but it has a powerful voice. To deny that is simply to be completely out of touch with reality,“ he said.

That has not stopped a barrage of accusations against Hagel. William Kristol, a prominent neo-conservative and editor of the Weekly Standard, accused him of harbouring an „unpleasant distaste for Israel and Jews“.