President Joe Biden delivered some of his sharpest criticisms of Israel on Tuesday, warning the country of losing global support as tensions between allies have escalated over the weeks.
Key Facts
Biden stated that Israel “is starting to lose that support” from the international community that was present immediately following the Hamas attack on October 7, specifically pointing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to agree to allow the Palestinian Authority – which opposes Hamas and oversees parts of the West Bank – to govern Gaza after the war between Israel and Hamas ends.
Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the Palestinian Authority’s ability to ensure the disarmament of Gaza against “arming” and “extremism,” stating in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” last month that he calls for a “different authority” to govern Gaza and highlighting in other interviews the necessity for Israel to maintain “overall security responsibility” for the region to ensure that Hamas terrorists are not empowered.
Critical Statements
Tuesday’s remarks followed similar comments from Biden on Monday during a Hanukkah party at the White House, where he said the U.S. and Israel “must be very careful” in handling the war moving forward, warning that “global public opinion can change overnight” and adding, “We cannot allow that.”
Despite expressing some frustration with Israel’s handling of the war, the Biden administration still supports Israel’s ongoing attacks against Hamas, continues to strongly condemn acts of terrorism against Israel, and maintains open lines of communication with the Israeli government.
Key Quote
“We have an opportunity to start uniting the region,” Biden said on Tuesday. “You can’t say no to a Palestinian state… that will be the hard part [for the Israeli government].”
Interesting Facts
This is not the first time Biden has faced difficulties in his relationship with Netanyahu. Referring to one of those moments during the White House party on Monday, he recounted a story about gifting a photo to Netanyahu during his time as a senator with a note saying, “Bibi, I love you, but I don’t agree with a thing you say,” adding, “it’s almost the same thing today.” Former President Barack Obama’s relationship with Netanyahu was sometimes strained. As Vice President, Biden expressed “overwhelming frustration” with Netanyahu’s administration and its resistance to a two-state solution, according to Biden in 2016.
Main Background
Biden has faced criticism from the progressive wing of his party as he has rejected growing calls for a permanent ceasefire in the war, emphasizing his stance that it would empower and could give Hamas strength and influence. The U.S. helped broker a temporary ceasefire last month that led to the release of 105 hostages, but the pause ended when Israel accused Hamas of failing to comply with terms requiring it to release all detained women. The Biden administration has been clear that it is closely monitoring Israel’s war tactics and has expressed the need to continue humanitarian support for Palestinians in Gaza while still strongly condemning Hamas.
What to Watch
Sullivan will travel to Israel this week to meet with the Israeli war cabinet and discuss “the agenda of this war,” he stated on Tuesday. Biden will meet on Wednesday with the families of American hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on October 7, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel.
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