John Fetterman meets Bibi in his hoodie: Netanyahu says there is 'no better friend for Israel' and praises Democrat for 'saying it like it is' in the face of fury from fellow progressives

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a hoodie-and-shorts-clad Sen. John Fetterman during their meeting in Israel on Wednesday for saying it 'like it is.' 

The Pennsylvania Democrat has been an outspoken advocate of Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack, to the dismay of his progressive one-time fans. 

'Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman. Senator, welcome to Israel. I want to thank you for your your courageous statements that show moral clarity and moral courage, and you just say the way it is,' Netanyahu said. 

Fetterman replied: 'We stand with Israel through this, and I'm so sorry for what's been done to this nation, but it's just an honor to be here today.'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a hoodie-and-shorts-clad Sen. John Fetterman during their meeting in Israel on Wednesday for saying it 'like it is'

The senator also donned a special bracelet given to him by families of victims killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival. 

On Tuesday he told Israeli President Isaac Herzog he would not take the bracelet off until all the hostages held by Hamas were returned. 

Netanyahu is under mounting pressure to accept a ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages. Some critics have accused him of intentionally prolonging the war to put off elections that could lead to his ouster. 

Pro-Israel voices cinched a win in Congress on Tuesday in the loss of Rep. Jamaal Bowman in his primary against George Latimer. 

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) dumped $15 million into the race against Bowman, an outspoken Israel critic.

The Pennsylvania Democrat has been an outspoken advocate of Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack, to the dismay of his progressive one-time fans

'Israel has had no better friend than Senator John Fetterman. Senator, welcome to Israel. I want to thank you for your your courageous statements that show moral clarity and moral courage, and you just say the way it is,' Netanyahu said

Last month Fetterman received a standing ovation at the commencement ceremony of Yeshiva, when he publicly disavowed himself from his alma mater Harvard. 

'I was reflecting when was my last graduation and that was literally a quarter century ago, 25 years ago,' he told a crowd of graduates. 'I was graduating from Harvard University but today I have been profoundly disappointed the way Harvard's inability to stand up for the Jewish community.' 

'For me personally I do not fundamentally believe it is right for me to wear this today,' he added as he removed his crimson hood. The crowd audibly gasped before breaking into a standing ovation.  

Fetterman graduated from Harvard's Kennedy School with a Master's of Public Policy in 1999.