US President Expresses Concern Over Israel’s Tactics in Gaza, Urges Netanyahu To Change Course
At a Washington campaign fundraiser on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government for its tactics in the war against Hamas in Gaza. He warned that Israel might lose international support if the “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza persists.
Gaza officials have reported that Israel’s retaliation has resulted in 18,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, and a humanitarian crisis. President Biden’s statements reveal his frank discussions with Netanyahu, with whom he has had longstanding disagreements.
The president framed his disapproval as a result of the Israeli government’s failure to minimize civilian casualties and the ongoing disagreement regarding post-war governance in Gaza. His comments, made at an event hosted by former AIPAC board chair Lee Rosenberg, largely avoided directly blaming Netanyahu, instead placing responsibility on the prime minister’s coalition partners.
President Biden, known for his unscripted remarks at fundraising events, addressed about a hundred people at a Washington hotel.
“[Netanyahu is] a good friend, but I think he has to change, and … this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move,” President Biden told the audience.
Referring to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a member of the far-right, ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party, the president stated that “Ben Gvir and company and the new folks don’t want anything remotely approaching a two-state solution.”
President Biden claimed that the current Israeli government, which he called “the most conservative government in Israel’s history,” is not interested in pursuing a two-state solution with the Palestinians but is instead seeking “retribution.”
He added that while retribution against Hamas for the events of October 7 is warranted, it should not be turned against “all Palestinians.”
Despite longstanding ties between Biden and Netanyahu, political disagreements have strained their relationship. President Biden mentioned at Monday’s White House Hanukkah reception that he once gifted Netanyahu a photo with “I love you, but I don’t agree with a damn thing you had to say” written in the margin.
During the speech, the president remarked that while Netanyahu understands that “Israel’s security can rest on the United States,” Ben Gvir and others in the cabinet do not realize that Israel cannot afford to lose the support of the rest of the world right now.
The US president recalled a conversation with Netanyahu, referencing historical events like the carpet-bombing of Germany and the dropping of the atom bomb. He used this to underscore the importance of learning from past mistakes, specifically referencing the aftermath of 9/11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan.
Coinciding with the president’s remarks, Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is preparing for talks with the Israeli War Cabinet in Israel.
Sullivan, discussing his upcoming visit to Israel, said he planned to address the war’s timeline with Israeli officials. He blamed Hamas for breaking a truce due to the terrorist group’s refusal to release more hostages.
In response to a question about President Biden’s comments, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari explained during a press conference that the Israeli military is in constant communication with both US Central Command and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, especially regarding issues of civilian safety.
“We operate in a manner that does our best to separate civilians who are not involved in terror from the terror,” Hagari said, adding that “the IDF has been doing this since the beginning of the fighting and certainly now in the last days. We will know how to show and present it, certainly to our ally.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Israel this week on a Middle East tour, which will also include stops in Bahrain and Qatar. Defense Department spokesperson Pat Riley announced this itinerary in a Tuesday press conference.
Netanyahu, in a statement, claimed full US backing for Israel’s ground operation in Gaza but acknowledged differences regarding the post-Hamas scenario. He emphasized Israel’s resistance to international pressure to halt the war.
Countering the president’s views, the Israeli prime minister vowed not to repeat the “mistake of Oslo” and ruled out allowing those he accused of supporting terrorism into Gaza. The US envisions the PA’s return to Gaza, which Hamas seized in 2007.
