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Far-right minister criticizes Biden, sparks anger in Israel at a sensitive time for US ties

Criticism of President Joe Biden by a far-right minister in Israel’s government sparked outrage on Sunday, underscoring the sensitivity of U.S. relations as Washington provides key support for the offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, skirting Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielding its ally from international calls for a cease-fire. But the White House has also urged Israel to take greater measures to avoid harming civilians and to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, criticized that approach in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, saying Biden was hindering Israel’s war effort and that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would give Israel greater latitude in fighting Hamas. “Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

Quick Read

  • Far-right Israeli Minister Criticizes Biden, Sparking Outrage Amid Gaza Offensive
  • Biden Administration’s Support for Israel Challenged by Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Comments
  • Ben-Gvir Claims Trump Would Allow More Freedom in Hamas Fight, Criticizes Aid to Gaza
  • Israeli Leaders Gantz and Lapid Rebuke Ben-Gvir, Stressing Harm to US-Israel Relations
  • Netanyahu Subtly Addresses Ben-Gvir’s Remarks, Highlights Importance of US Alliance
  • Tensions Rise as Netanyahu Faces Pressure to Scale Back Offensive, Balance Coalition Demands
  • Ongoing US-Mediated Negotiations for Hostage Release Complicate Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks
  • Gaza War’s Devastation: 85% Displaced, 27,365 Killed, Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies
  • Public Protests in Tel Aviv Demand Effective Resolution and Hostage Release

The Associated Press has the story:

Far-right minister criticizes Biden, sparks anger in Israel at a sensitive time for US ties

Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP) —

Criticism of President Joe Biden by a far-right minister in Israel’s government sparked outrage on Sunday, underscoring the sensitivity of U.S. relations as Washington provides key support for the offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

FILE – President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Manassas, Va., Jan. 23, 2024. Biden is expected to notch an easy win in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on Saturday, Feb. 3. The state officially kicks off the Democratic nominating process for the first time. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, skirting Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielding its ally from international calls for a cease-fire.

But the White House has also urged Israel to take greater measures to avoid harming civilians and to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli right wing Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir, left, and Bezalel Smotrich, right, talk with each other during the swearing-in ceremony for Israeli lawmakers at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. Israeli lawmakers were sworn in at the Knesset, on Tuesday, following national elections earlier this month. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, criticized that approach in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, saying Biden was hindering Israel’s war effort and that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would give Israel greater latitude in fighting Hamas.

“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said. “If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”

FILE – Benny Gantz speaks at the announcement of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s election bid in Ramat Gan, Israel, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. Israel is holding its fifth national election in under four years, and once again the race is shaping up as a referendum on former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fitness to rule. (AP Photo/ Tsafrir Abayov, File)

His remarks drew fire from Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Netanyahu’s three-man War Cabinet, who said Ben-Gvir was “causing tremendous damage” to American-Israeli relations. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gantz said any disputes must be “conducted in relevant forums and not in irresponsible statements in the media.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, also posting on X, said Ben-Gvir’s remarks prove that he “does not understand foreign relations” and that Netanyahu had lost control over extremists in his governing coalition.

Analysis: Israeli PM's Gaza gamble seems to have paid off
FILE – Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid heads a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on July 31, 2022. Lapid took a gamble with his pre-emptive strike against Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza, less than three months before he competes in general elections to retain his job. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his remarks when addressing a weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday. The prime minister thanked Biden for his support while highlighting his own experience of dealing with multiple U.S. administrations, describing a give-and-take approach to Israel’s most important alliance.

“There are those who say ‘no’ to everything, receiving applause at home, but they’re also endangering vital interests,” he said.

Ben-Gvir, along with other far-right figures, has called for “voluntary” mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and for the return of Jewish settlements, which Israel dismantled when it withdrew troops from the territory in 2005. The Biden administration is opposed to any such scenario.

FILE – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. U.S. and Mideast mediators appeared optimistic in recent days that they are closing in on a deal for a two-month cease-fire in Gaza and the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas. But on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the militant group’s two main demands — that Israel withdraw its forces from Gaza and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners — indicating that the gap between the two sides remains wide. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, File)

The dispute came at a sensitive time, as Netanyahu faces pressure from the U.S. and the international community to scale back the offensive even as Ben-Gvir and other key members of his governing coalition have threatened to bring down the government if they believe he is too soft on Hamas.

Israel is also involved in tense negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt aimed at freeing more than 100 captives held by Hamas in return for a cease-fire and the release of Palestinians jailed in Israel.

Women listen to a speaker during a weekly rally calling for the release of hostages who were kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

The war in Gaza has leveled vast swaths of the tiny besieged enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. The Health Ministry in Gaza said Sunday that 127 bodies have been brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from nearly four months of fighting to 27,365.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of those killed were women and children. The real toll is likely higher as the ministry says many casualties are buried under the rubble from airstrikes or cannot be reached by first responders.

Pro-Palestinian protesters hold up banners, flags and placards during a demonstration in London, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 as they demand for a full cease fire and an end to the siege of Gaza. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

A woman visits a display of posters of people taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, during a weekly rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Thousands of people gathered again in Tel Aviv late Saturday for protests criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the plight of the hostages.

Family members of the hostages, with wide public support, are calling on Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas to bring them home. Hamas has said it won’t release any more hostages until Israel ends its offensive. The militant group is also demanding the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Pro-Palestinian protesters hold up banners, flags and placards during a demonstration in London, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 as they demand for a full cease fire and an end to the siege of Gaza. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Netanyahu has publicly ruled out both demands. Hamas is expected to respond to the latest cease-fire offer in the coming days.

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