11 February 2024 , 15:42
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President Joe Biden is closer to a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his continual failure to agree a ceasefire deal with Gaza.
Biden’s top aides suggested the wider team is becoming frustrated with Netanyahu’s inability to come to compromise is derailing discussions, and can no longer be seen as a reliable ally. Subsequently, Biden’s aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, urged the president to be more publicly critical of Netanyahu regarding his military operation in Gaza, reported the Washington Post.
Biden has thus far has been reluctant to take his private frustrations with Netanyahu public, alleged his people. However, this is supposedly taking a turn as Netanyahu continually flaunts his military freedoms in the Middle East with little regard for US advice or policy.
Netanyahu angered U.S. officials by publicly denouncing a hostage deal while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was attempting to draw up a peace deal in the region. Netanyahu announced the IDF would move into Rafah, previously stated a safe zone, packed with 1.4 million Palestinians..
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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a fractured relationship with Joe Biden (AFP via Getty Images)Netanyahu rejected moves for a ceasefire stating that Israel could reach “total victory,” in Gaza. It is not clear what the prime minister eans by this.
The White House has continued to provide aid to Israel despite calls to stop. However, Biden’s aides argued that Biden should publicly distance himself from a man who is becoming an increasingly divisive and unpopular leader.
On Thursday Biden made his most obvious stance yet calling Israel’s military operation in Gaza “over the top.” He added that Israel and Egypt were frustrating efforts to deliver aid to Gaza adding: “A lot of innocent people are starving. A lot of innocent people are in trouble and they’re dying. And it’s got to stop.”
One advsior to the White House reportedly said: “They’re already living in tents and not getting enough food and water and you’re saying go somewhere else. Where? How are they supposed to get there?”
Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser said: “So long as you are supporting Netanyahu’s military operation in Gaza without condition, it makes absolutely no difference how much you turn the dial in your comments. Fundamentally, you have to make a decision not to give Bibi [Netanyahu] a blank check of support.”
Israel launched what was initially said to be a counter-attack against Gaza after Hamas militants attacked thousands and kidnapped hundreds in Israel on October 7. Israeli airstrikes and raids have now killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
This article is based on interviews with 19 senior administration officials and outside advisers, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak about private deliberations. White House aides say publicly that there has been no change in Biden’s strategy or message.
Som aides argued Biden can support Israel while denouncing Netanyahu, but Biden allegedly struggles to strike this balance and views Israel’s leadership and the state as one. However he is alienating the electorate as young voters, people of color, Muslims and Arab Americans strongly disapprove of his handling of the war.
One official said Biden’s comments about the “over the top” attack reflect a switch. The aide said: “I don’t think anybody can look at what the Israelis have done in Gaza and not say it’s over the top. This gets to the frustration with the Israelis. Have they done the work on what comes next in Gaza? No. They haven’t grappled with the really hard questions. Everything is a daily struggle.;;
In a briefing last week, officials said intelligence showed that although Israel had degraded Hamas’ military capabilities, it is not close to eradicating the group. U.S. officials are now focused on a deal to release the remaining 130 hostages in Gaza.
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Aides have reported that Biden often tells Netanyahu: I love you, Bibi, even if I can’t stand you.” Someone speaking on anonymity said that Netanyahu once showed Biden deeply antisemitic depictions of Jewish people from Hamas and cited this as his reason he would not make peace with Palestinians.
One advisor said that Biden’s last conversation with Netanyahu was mid-January, and as their relationship degrades they speak less. Biden told Netanyahu to “put down an offer on paper and test Hamas,” the official said. The president then spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, urging them to pressure Hamas to reach a peace agreement.
However, the president and his aides were then infuriated when Netanyahu publicly rejected the latest hostage deal from Hamas last week.
Blinken then said the US had “profound concerns” regarding Netanyahu’s behavior. He added: “The daily toll that its military operations continue to take on innocent civilians remains too high. Israelis were dehumanized in the most horrific way on October 7. The hostages have been dehumanized every day since. But that cannot be a license to dehumanize others.”