Date: 2024-08-16 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00026149
THE GAZA WAR
STARTED BY HAMAS ... NOT BEING ENDED BY 'BIBI'
World: Biden 'running out' of patience with Bibi as Gaza war hits 100 days
STARTED BY HAMAS ... NOT BEING ENDED BY 'BIBI'
World: Biden 'running out' of patience with Bibi as Gaza war hits 100 days
Original article: https://www.axios.com/2024/01/14/biden-netanyahu-israel-gaza-war-tensions
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
I have had a lot of sympathy for Jews as a result of their history and for Israel since 1947 ... but my goodwill towards Jews and Israel is being sorely tried by the Nehanyahi, the current Prime Minister of Israel.
The events of October 7th when Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli civilians killing many ... around 1,400 and capturing around 300, with more than 100 still in capitivity more than 3 months later.
But 3 months later the Israeli military have killed many more Palestinians ... with estimates from the Gaza medical system of in excess of 20,000 killed. The majority of those killed seem to be women and children. Few seem to be affiliated with Hamas in a direct way. Nobody in the Natanyahu administration seems to be concerned about this ... and especially Netanyahu.
I think Biden made the right call in the early days immediately after the October 7th murders of Israelis by Hamas operatives ... but ongoing support of Netanyahu policies by the USA 3 months later is not right any more. My understanding is that this is the quiet position of Biden and the USA in private ... but it is time for the administration to go public and make a big noise about the failure of Netanyahu to get on the right side of history NOW!
The United States has been a very good friend to Israel ... and to Jews more broadly, and I want that to continue. However, I don't want that to continue at the expense of the Palestinian people. Sadly, for many years Palestian leadership has not been strong and they have failed to make much progress in improving the lot of Palestians for decades. Sadly, better leadership has not emerged. And worse, it has been Hamas that has gained power and has now been in control of Gaza for many years after winning one election and not having another election since!
Rhe deeply sad reality is that decent Israelis and decent Palestinians ... both majorities in their respective communities are not represented well in the governing institutions wither in the Israeli system or in the Palestinian system. This has to change ... but it is not easy!
Peter Burgess
Written by Barak Ravid
Jan 14, 2024
President Biden sits with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the Israeli war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, 2023. Photo: Miriam Alster/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden and other senior U.S. officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rejection of most of the administration's recent requests related to the war in Gaza, four U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios.
Why it matters: Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack 100 days ago, Biden has given Israel his full backing, with unprecedented military and diplomatic support, even while taking a political hit from part of his base in an election year. That support has largely continued publicly, but behind the scenes, there are growing signs that Biden is losing his patience, the U.S. officials said.
- 'The situation sucks and we are stuck. The president's patience is running out,' one U.S. official told Axios.
- 'At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger,' Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who has been in close contact with U.S. officials about the war, told Axios. 'They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again.'
- Before Biden hung up, Netanyahu had rejected his request that Israel release the Palestinian tax revenues it's withholding.
- National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tried to downplay the decrease in communication, telling reporters on Wednesday that 'it doesn't say anything' about the state of the relationship.
- But more and more signs of irritation are emerging. 'There is immense frustration,' a U.S. official said.
- In addition to the tax revenue issue, Biden and his advisers believe Israel isn't doing enough to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- They're also frustrated by Netanyahu's unwillingness to seriously discuss plans for the day after the war and his rejection of the U.S. plan for a reformed Palestinian Authority to have a role in post-Hamas Gaza.
- U.S. officials are now growing increasingly concerned that Israel won't meet its timetable to transition to low-intensity operations in Gaza by the end of January, based on where things stand in Gaza, particularly in the southern city of Khan Younis.
- If Israel doesn't significantly scale down its operations in Gaza — which U.S. officials have been pressing for in hopes of reducing Palestinian casualties — it will likely become increasingly difficult for Biden to maintain the same level of support for Israel's military campaign.
The big picture: Secretary of State Tony Blinken's visit to Israel last week only exacerbated the frustrations within the White House and the State Department, the U.S. officials who spoke to Axios said.
- Netanyahu did agree to allow a UN mission to enter northern Gaza to assess the needs for the future return of Palestinian civilians to the area, but that was about all he was willing to give Blinken.
- Blinken was very blunt with Netanyahu and his War Cabinet, stressing that the Israeli government's plan for the day after the war is 'pie in the sky,' a U.S. official said.
- Blinken, who pointedly visited Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar before heading to Israel, also told Israeli leaders that 'no Arab country is going to bail them out' on the rebuilding and governance of Gaza if Israel doesn't allow the PA to have a role and doesn't allow for a political horizon for the Palestinians, the official said.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Blinken in Ramallah he was ready to form a new government — at the administration's request — but stressed it wouldn't be able to function without money, and the tax revenues are a big part of the budget, the sources said.
- Blinken told Netanyahu that Saudi Arabia still wants normalization after the war ends, but only if Israel commits to the principle of a two-state solution, U.S. and Israeli officials previously told Axios.
- While admitting it's 'far-fetched' to think Netanyahu could agree to a deal that sets a path towards a Palestinian state, U.S. officials say they want to present an alternative vision to what many fear will be an endless war in Gaza.
- During last week's visit, Blinken held a separate meeting with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, who domestic polls show would likely handily win an Israeli election if it were held today.
- Blinken also met with opposition leader Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu's key rival inside the prime minister's Likud party.