U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israel is losing support over its "indiscriminate" bombing of Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu should change, exposing a new rift in relations with the Israeli prime minister.
Biden's remarks at a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign were 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 said on Wednesday that Israel enjoys U.S. support for its goal of destroying Hamas and recovering hostages held by the organization, but the allies differ about what might follow the Gaza war.
At the fundraiser, 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."
According to the White House, Biden said on Netanyahu at the event that "He's a good friend, but I think he has to change and – with this government. This government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move."
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 [Netanyahu] understands that he's got to make some moves… You can't say no Palestinian state."
Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that Israel and the U.S. "have differences regarding 'the day after Hamas,' and I hope we reach agreement."
Netanyahu said he "greatly appreciate[d] American support for the destruction of Hamas and the return of our hostages," and that "after intensive talks with President Biden and his staff, we received full support for the ground operation and the blocking of international pressure to stop the war."
The prime minister also addressed his recent comment that as many Israelis were killed in terror attacks following the 1993 Oslo Accords as in the October 7 attack.
"I want to clarify my position: I won't let Israel repeat the mistake of Oslo," he said. "I won't allow us, after the massive sacrifice of our citizens and soldiers, to bring into Gaza someone who teaches terrorism, supports terrorism, [and] funds terrorism. Gaza won't be Hamastan or Fatahstan."
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, officials in the Biden administration have acknowledged the Palestinian Authority will need to undergo significant reforms, which might involve "purging its aging leaderships, setting a timetable for elections and overhauling its security forces, in order to be able to step into Gaza."
The report also said that U.S. officials met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials in recent weeks to advance such steps.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi responded to President Biden's statements by saying that despite Israel's appreciation for the U.S., "we live here, and this is our land, the historic inheritance of our ancestors. There will not be a Palestinian state here. We will never allow the establishment of another state between the river to the sea. We will never return to Oslo... A Palestinian state would endanger us."
Source: Haaretz.com
BDST: 1019 HRS, DEC 13, 2023
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