The White House has hit out at Mohamed Morsi over the Egyptian President’s recently-revealed comments that he called Zionists “bloodsuckers” in a television interview aired in 2010.

Chuck Hagel, who was nominated as US Defence Secretary on Monday, has hit back at critics saying there is “not one shred of evidence that I'm anti-Israeli”.

In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star of his home state, Nebraska, he said that his critics have “completely distorted” his record, which in fact, shows “unequivocal, total support for Israel".

Depending on who you ask, former Senator Chuck Hagel, the front-runner for Secretary of Defence in Barack Obama’s second administration, is “hardly Israel’s first choice”, an “outspoken critic of Israel” and just plain “anti-Israel”.

Senator John F. Kerry has become the front-runner to replace Hillary Clinton as US secretary of state.

The front-runner to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State has proven herself to be a staunch friend of Israel.

Florida’s Jews are used to being a coveted voting bloc, sometimes determining the outcome of national elections. But this year, another all-important demographic emerged at the ballots.