Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday aired new grievances over the Biden administration’s provision of munitions for the war in Gaza, as his defense minister arrived in Washington for meetings with senior US officials.
Some Israeli media had presented Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit, although planned in advance, as a “reconciliation” trip aimed at easing recent tensions with the country’s most crucial ally. Mr. Netanyahu’s government and the Biden administration are increasingly at odds over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, and Mr. Netanyahu castigated in the United States last week for withholding ammunition.
But on Sunday morning, Mr. Netanyahu doubled down. In a speech broadcast in Hebrew ahead of his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Mr. Netanyahu said he appreciated the Biden administration’s support for Israel during eight months of war, “but for four months there has been a spectacular decline in arms supply.”
“For many weeks, we turned to our American friends and asked that shipments be accelerated. We have done it many times,” Mr. Netanyahu said, adding that he had also tried to work behind closed doors.
“We have received all kinds of explanations, but one thing we have not received: the fundamental situation has not changed,” he continued, adding: “Some items have arrived sporadically, but the ammunition generally stayed where they were.
The Biden administration had no immediate comment on the remarks, which could overshadow Mr. Gallant in Washington. They come just days after Mr. Netanyahu issued a combative statement. videoin English, lambasting the Biden administration for, as the Israeli leader said, withholding weapons and ammunition while Israel was “fighting for its life” against Iran and other common enemies.
U.S. officials said at the time they found the video “embarrassing” and I didn’t know what Mr. Netanyahu was talking about. While the Israeli prime minister complained of “bottlenecks,” the Biden administration maintained that it had held back only one shipment of goods. 2,000 pound bombs due to concerns about their use in densely populated areas of Gaza.
Many Israelis were also disconcerted by the prime minister’s decision to launch such a public fight with the White House, with strong criticism even coming from his own conservative Likud party.
Yuli Edelstein, a Likud lawmaker and chairman of the Israeli parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee, said he was “surprised” by the video. He told Israel’s “Meet the Press” program on Saturday that differences of opinion with the United States should not be addressed “via video clips.”
Some Israeli political analysts have suggested that Mr. Netanyahu’s moves could be an attempt to intervene in American politics ahead of November’s presidential elections and give Donald Trump and the Republicans a stick with which to beat the Democrats. Mr. Netanyahu is expected to address a joint session of Congress next month.
Other experts, however, say Mr Netanyahu’s public affront probably has more to do with Israel’s domestic politics, amid growing signs of tensions within his hawkish coalition – the most right-wing and religiously conservative of the history of Israel.
“If there is any logic to a completely illogical move, it has to be seen through the prism of Netanyahu, with his political survival as the ultimate goal,” said Reuven Hazan, professor of political science at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. .
Mr. Netanyahu is “pandering to extremists in Israel in the short term,” he added, “and likely creating damage for the military, for relations with the United States and for the country in the long term.”
Mr Netanyahu defended his actions on Sunday, saying he had made it public based on “years of experience and the knowledge that this step was vital to opening the bottleneck”, adding: “I am prepared to absorb personal attacks on behalf of the State of Israel. .”
He also hinted that his public criticism could bear fruit.
“In light of what I have heard over the past 24 hours,” he said, “I hope and believe that this issue will be resolved in the near future.”
The continuation of the row on Sunday and Mr. Gallant’s trip to the United States come at a critical time. The Israeli military has indicated it wants to end the fighting in Gaza and potentially turn its attention to its northern border with Lebanon, after weeks of escalating tit-for-tat strikes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia supported by Iran.
The Biden administration is working to find a diplomatic solution to avoid a real conflagration between Israel and Hezbollah. President Biden also invested time and political capital in supporting an Israeli proposal for a truce in Gaza involving a hostage exchange – including some have American nationality – for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has expressed significant reservations about this proposal and negotiations are at an impasse.
Mr. Gallant was invited to Washington by his counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, according to Mr. Gallant’s office. He also said he was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and other senior U.S. officials.
“The United States is our most important and central ally,” Gallant said shortly before his departure. “Our ties are crucial, and perhaps more important than ever, during this time,” he added.
Mr. Gallant and Mr. Netanyahu are themselves rivals who have openly clashed in recent months, even though they jointly oversee Israeli military operations. While the Israeli Prime Minister attacked the White House, he also engaged in increasingly public feuds with its military and its right-wing coalition partners.
Gabby Sobelman reports contributed.
