President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government and that Israel cannot say no in the future to a Palestinian state, ramping up pressure on the Israelis.
Quick Read
- Biden’s Call for Change in Israeli Government: President Biden expressed the need for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change his hardline government, indicating concerns about its conservative nature.
- Remarks on Palestinian State: Biden emphasized that Israel cannot indefinitely reject the idea of a Palestinian state, a stance opposed by Israeli hardliners.
- Critique of Israeli Bombing in Gaza: Biden expressed growing U.S. concern over Israel’s bombing in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
- International Support Concerns: He noted that Israel is starting to lose international support due to its actions in Gaza.
- Sullivan’s Upcoming Visit to Israel: Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, is preparing to visit Israel for talks with the Israeli war cabinet, focusing on the timetable of the war in Gaza.
- Netanyahu’s Position: Netanyahu acknowledged U.S. support for Israel’s goal to defeat Hamas and recover hostages, but he noted differences with the U.S. on post-war scenarios.
- Biden’s Criticism of Itamar Ben-Gvir: Biden specifically criticized the far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, and described the current Israeli government as the most conservative in its history.
- Biden’s Support for Israel’s Military Operations: Despite expressing concern about Palestinian civilian deaths, Biden has shown strong support for Israel’s military operations against Hamas militants in Gaza.
- Meeting with Families of American Hostages: Biden plans to meet with families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas during their attack in southern Israel on October 7.
- Hamas’s Role in Truce Breakdown: Sullivan accused Hamas of causing the breakdown of a truce because of their refusal to release more hostages, affirming Israel’s right to self-defense.
Reuters has the story:
Biden: Netanyahu must change Israel government, losing global support
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, (Reuters)
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government and that Israel cannot say no in the future to a Palestinian state, ramping up pressure on the Israelis.
Biden’s remarks at a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign was a further sign of growing U.S. concern at Israel’s bombing in Gaza in which thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed.
“They’re starting to lose that support,”
Biden said, referring to the international community’s alarm at the bombing.
The sharp comments came as Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, prepares to travel to Israel for talks with the Israeli war cabinet.
Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel enjoys U.S. support for its goal of destroying Hamas and recovering hostages held by the Palestinian militants, but the allies differ about what might follow the Gaza war.
Biden specifically mentioned Israel’s far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is Israel’s national security minister, and said “this is the most conservative government in Israel’s history.”
“He (Netanyahu) has to change this government. This government in Israel is making it very difficult,”
Biden said.
Ultimately Israel can’t say no to a Palestinian state, which Israeli hardliners oppose.”
Biden said
“We have an opportunity to begin to unite the region … and they still want to do it. But we have to make sure that Bibi understands that he’s got to make some moves to strengthen… You cannot say no Palestinian state… That’s going to be the hard part.”
Biden said .
Sullivan said on Tuesday that during his visit to Israel he will discuss with Israeli officials their timetable for the war in Gaza.
“The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings,” said Sullivan, who is expected to travel later this week.
Biden has expressed strong support for Israel’s military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza but he and his team have expressed growing concern about the death of Palestinian civilians.
Biden plans to meet on Wednesday at the White House with family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed, a White House official said.
Sullivan blamed Hamas for the breakdown of an Israeli-Hamas truce from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1 because the militants refused to release more hostages.
“Hamas to this day continues to hold women, elderly people, civilians in significant numbers. And yet still, it’s saying: ‘Hey, how about everybody just stops.’ So we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself,” he said.
