Mar 10, 2024,02:49pm EDT
President Joe Biden, who claimed to have the backing of “an overwhelming majority of Israelis,” was slammed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the latter stated in a Saturday interview with MSNBC that Netanyahu’s wartime policies in Gaza were “hurting Israel more than helping Israel.”
Important Information
In an interview with Politico, Netanyahu stated, “I don’t know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant… that I’m pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis and that this is hurting the interests of Israel, then he’s wrong on both counts.”
Strangely, the video was made public by the Israeli government on Sunday before Politico did. It was posted to Netanyahu’s X, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Only three days have passed since Biden was captured on camera criticizing Netanyahu while speaking to Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State of the Union. The Israeli prime minister’s response was, “I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting.”
After the hot mic incident, Biden spoke to Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC and said that while Netanyahu “has a right to defend Israel, a right to pursue Hamas—but he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives lost as a consequence of the actions taken,” he is actually doing more harm than good to Israel.
ESSENTIAL PREFACE
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan demanded in December that Israel hand over sovereignty of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority following the conclusion of hostilities. The territory has been under Hamas administration since 2007, when the Palestinian government lost control of it. Since then, Netanyahu has rejected this plan and called for Israel to take control of “all territories west of the Jordan” and establish a security buffer around Gaza in order to end the occupation of the West Bank and establish an independent Palestinian state. The United States and numerous other nations—including Biden on Thursday at his State of the Union address—who have all supported a two-state solution since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1995, criticized Netanyahu’s proposal. Reiterating his stance once more, Netanyahu stated on Sunday that most Israelis “resoundingly reject the attempt to ram down our throats the Palestinian state.” Once more, he opposed giving the Palestinian Authority authority over the Gaza Strip and instead supported Israeli sovereignty over it. “Most Israelis realize that failing to take this action will result in a recurrence of the October 7 massacre, which is detrimental to Israel, the Palestinian people, and the prospects for Middle East peace.”
PAGE OF NEWS
Following weeks of what seem to be a standstill in the cease-fire talks, Netanyahu made these remarks. There may soon be more fighting in Gaza on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts on Sunday night. Netanyahu’s intention to advance into Rafah, the southern Gaza metropolis where over 1.3 million Palestinians have fled after being forced from other parts of the territory, has drawn scathing criticism from the Biden administration.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of the National Security Council, John Kirby declared that an invasion of Rafah would be a “disaster” and that “we would not support it.” Biden echoed this opinion on Saturday when he concurred that Israeli troops entering Rafah would be the same as crossing a “red line.” Biden swiftly changed his mind, saying MSNBC, “I’m never going to leave Israel.” There is no red line where I will cut off all weaponry such that they are without the Iron Dome to protect them since Israel’s defense is still vital.
LARGE NUMBER
Over 31,000. According to the most recent estimates from the health ministry operated by Hamas, that is the total number of persons who have died in Gaza since Israel’s invasion in the enclave started on October 7.
TANGENT
Netanyahu’s remarks coincide with the ongoing difficulties in delivering desperately needed relief to Gaza Strip residents. The Biden administration’s coordinated shipments have encountered difficulties in getting to the territory’s civilian population. In Israel, civilian blockades have been placed in the way of aid convoys. In Gaza City, approximately 100 Palestinians were waiting for a food supply when Israeli soldiers opened fire; however, the Israeli military maintains that these people were crushed in a stampede. Biden stated at the beginning of the month that food shipments by air will be initiated by the Jordanian and American militaries to the area. However, since the start of the campaign, the parachute on one food container has failed, killing two children and wounding ten more when it hit the ground. During Thursday night’s State of the Union address, Biden declared that the US military would be sent to construct a dock in northern Gaza so that relief supplies could reach the beleaguered city by sea.