Senior Israeli Official Claims US Seeks To Undermine Netanyahu’s Government

In a pointed critique of the Biden Administration’s approach to Israeli politics, an unnamed senior Israeli official has reportedly accused the US of attempting to destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. This accusation emerged in response to the publication of the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, which said that Netanyahu’s “governing coalition of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties that pursued hard-line policies on Palestinian and security issues may be in jeopardy.”

The report highlights growing public distrust in Netanyahu’s leadership, intensified by his policies before and during the war with Hamas. It predicts large-scale protests demanding his resignation and new elections, and concludes that “a different, more moderate government is a  possibility.”

The senior Israeli official speculates that the intelligence community’s description of the danger to Netanyahu’s coalition due to its waning popularity could mask a prescription that the Israeli prime minister should be ousted.

This perspective has heightened tensions between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden, especially after President Biden’s candid remarks about needing a “come to Jesus meeting” with the Israeli prime minister and his critical comments in an interview on MSNBC regarding Netanyahu’s Gaza policies.

Despite these tensions, Netanyahu, in a virtual address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, expressed gratitude for President Biden’s support and voiced hope for its continuation. The Israeli official’s rebuke underscores the deep rift between the Jewish state and its greatest ally, and the complex relationship between the two countries, especially in light of Biden’s reelection campaign and his efforts to balance support for Israel with his party’s more progressive elements critical of the Gaza conflict.