June 23rd 2024.
In a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue of decreased weapons deliveries from the United States for their efforts in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He stated that there had been a significant drop in these deliveries, stating that while some items had arrived sporadically, the majority of the munitions were still yet to be received. This claim has been denied by the Biden administration, highlighting the growing tension between the two allies.
The strained relationship between Israel and the U.S. has been further highlighted by disagreements over the Israeli military's actions in Gaza, particularly regarding civilian casualties. President Joe Biden has expressed concerns over these issues and has delayed the delivery of certain heavy bombs since May. However, he and his administration have pushed back against Netanyahu's claims that other shipments have also been affected.
Netanyahu explained that he had released a video in English last week after numerous attempts to address the issue with American officials were unsuccessful. He expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon, but did not provide any further details.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, also traveled to Washington for meetings with senior officials. While the statement from his office mentioned discussions about maintaining Israel's military advantage in the region, it did not address the issue of decreased weapons deliveries.
The conflict in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas' attack on southern Israel, has put a strain on the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. While the U.S. has continued to support Israel's goals of freeing hostages and defeating Hamas, they have also raised concerns about the high number of Palestinian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in the region.
President Biden has faced pressure from progressive Democrats to take a tougher stance against Israel, and he has issued warnings to Netanyahu over military tactics in Gaza. However, he has stopped short of imposing any significant bans on arms transfers, despite threatening to do so earlier.
This tension between the two nations has also caused problems for Biden, as he faces criticism from both the left and the right. Some on the right believe he has weakened his support for Israel, while others accuse him of trying to win political points by causing a rift with a crucial Middle Eastern ally.
For Netanyahu, the growing discord with the U.S. presents both risks and opportunities. While some see his public disagreements with the U.S. as damaging to important alliances and Israel's reputation, others view it as a chance for the long-serving leader to show his independence and prioritize the interests of his country.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]