Joe Biden warns Benjamin Netanyahu not to change course or risk losing global support

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Joe Biden says Benjamin Netanyahu must change course, warning that Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza threatens to leave the country isolated.

In his harshest criticism of the far-right coalition led by the Israeli Prime Minister since the Jewish state began its military offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, the US President said that Israel “began to lose…” . . Support around the world.

Speaking to donors at a political fundraiser, Biden described Netanyahu’s coalition as “the most conservative government in Israel’s history…”. . .[that]He does not want a two-state solution.”

“I think he has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel, it makes it difficult for him to move,” Biden said.

So far, Biden has largely resisted public pressure on Netanyahu even as US officials say they have had difficult talks in private. The US president has publicly been a strong supporter of Israel throughout his political career, including its current war efforts.

A US official said that Biden’s statements were not part of a coordinated attempt by the White House to pressure Netanyahu but were “off the cuff” and “random.”

Later on Tuesday, in a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, at the White House, Biden said he had “made it clear to the Israelis, and they are aware of this…” . . The safety of innocent Palestinians remains a major concern.”

The US President added that Israeli actions “must be consistent with trying to do everything possible to prevent innocent Palestinian civilians from being harmed, killed, killed, lost, etc.”

Biden said he could not verify “assurances” that there were no hostages in the Gaza tunnels that Israel was expected to flood during its military operations. He said: “Although I know that every civilian killing is an absolute tragedy, Israel has announced its intention to match its words and intentions with actions.” “That’s what I was talking about today.”

The United States vetoed a widely supported UN Security Council resolution last week, which called for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds, a resolution that Israel strongly opposed.

Biden aides, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have criticized Israel and its approach to its military efforts in Gaza. The death toll in the Gaza Strip exceeded 18,000 people, according to Palestinian officials.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is traveling to Israel this week to get a better idea of ​​the Jewish state’s war plans and timing. Biden said Austin will also head to the Middle East to discuss “international efforts to protect the free flow of trade through the Red Sea.” US officials expect the fighting to reach a new stage by January.

The Biden administration is also working on plans for post-war Gaza. Western and Arab diplomats say privately that it will be practically impossible to reach any kind of two-state solution as long as Netanyahu remains in power.

Netanyahu has previously campaigned on a promise that he would prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, and in recent days has strongly criticized the Oslo Accords, the 1990s agreements that led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority.

Earlier Tuesday, Netanyahu acknowledged that his government and the Biden administration disagree on how to manage Gaza once Israel’s war with Hamas ends, but said he hoped they could still reach an agreement.

The United States is pushing for the Palestinian Authority – which ruled Gaza until ousted by Hamas in 2007 and still exercises limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank – to play a significant role in governing Gaza after the war.

However, Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he would oppose the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, and he reiterated that position on Tuesday. He said in a statement: “Gaza will neither be Hamastan nor Fatehistan,” referring to the Fatah movement led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Yes, there is disagreement about “The Day After Hamas,” and I hope we will reach an agreement here as well.”

Netanyahu, who has been prominent in Israeli politics for 15 years, returned to power last year after a brief period in opposition by forming a coalition with religious and religious Zionist parties.

His cabinet includes National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was convicted in 2007 of anti-Arab incitement, and Bezalel Smotrich, another ultra-nationalist settler whom he appointed as finance minister.

The United States has also made clear to Israel that it does not want to see the Jewish state occupy the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said he expected Israel to have an indefinite presence there, and ruled out an international force playing a role in security after the war, which broke out due to Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.

“I think Israel will bear security responsibility for an indefinite period,” Netanyahu told ABC News last month. “We have seen what happens when we do not have that… security responsibility, what we have is an outbreak of Hamas terrorism on a scale we cannot imagine.”