Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described White House statements regarding his claims that the U.S. is holding up weapons deliveries for Israel as “personal attacks,” but said he would endure these attacks provided Israel gets the munitions.
Quick Read
- Location: JERUSALEM
- Key Figure: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Issue: Netanyahu claims U.S. is holding up weapons deliveries to Israel
- White House Response:
- Statement by National Security Spokesman John Kirby
- U.S. is “perplexed” by Netanyahu’s claims
- Kirby says claims are incorrect
- Netanyahu’s Reaction:
- Describes White House statements as “personal attacks”
- Will endure attacks if Israel receives necessary munitions
- Statement from Netanyahu’s office emphasizes the need for ammunition
- Domestic Context:
- Netanyahu facing growing political problems at home
- Analysts suggest comments aimed at shoring up support among right-wing base and U.S. supporters
- No actual weapon shortages indicated
- Additional Information:
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted only a pause in delivering certain heavy bombs since May
- President Joe Biden delayed sending 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza
- Administration careful to avoid suggesting Israeli forces crossed a red line in Rafah operations to prevent a broader arms transfer ban
The Associated Press has the story:
Netanyahu bemoans ‘personal attacks’ after White House responds to his claims about weapons delays
Newslooks- JERUSALEM —
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described White House statements regarding his claims that the U.S. is holding up weapons deliveries for Israel as “personal attacks,” but said he would endure these attacks provided Israel gets the munitions.
Earlier Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. is “perplexed” by Netanyahu’s claims earlier this week that the U.S. was holding up the delivery of weapons and creating bottlenecks. Kirby said those claims were incorrect.
Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, said, “I am ready to suffer personal attacks as long as Israel receives from the United States the ammunition that it needs in the war for its existence.”
Netanyahu has been facing growing domestic political problems, and analysts have said his comments Tuesday on weapons delivery delays were likely aimed to shore up support among his right-wing base in Israel and the country’s supporters in the U.S., and didn’t appear to indicate actual shortages of weapons.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday the only pause in weapons deliveries was related to certain heavy bombs since May.
U.S. President Joe Biden delayed sending the 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza. Yet the administration has gone to lengths to avoid any suggestion that Israeli forces have crossed a red line in the deepening operation in the southern city of Rafah, which would trigger a more sweeping ban on arms transfers.
