June 23rd 2024.
TEL AVIV, Israel - On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his Cabinet to discuss a concerning matter - a significant decrease in the delivery of weapons from the U.S. for Israel's war efforts in Gaza. This issue has caused a strain in the relationship between the two allies, and Netanyahu is doubling down on his claim despite the Biden administration denying it.
Netanyahu revealed that the drop in deliveries occurred four months ago, but he did not specify which weapons were affected. He simply stated that while some items arrived sporadically, the majority of the munitions remained behind. This disagreement highlights the high tensions between Israel and the U.S. regarding the ongoing war in Gaza, specifically surrounding the Israeli military's actions and the resulting impact on civilians.
President Joe Biden has delayed delivering certain heavy bombs since May due to concerns over the conduct of the Israeli military. However, his administration has refuted Netanyahu's accusations that other shipments have also been affected. Netanyahu explained that he released a video in English last week as a last resort after weeks of unsuccessful attempts to speed up deliveries. He remains hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon.
The video sparked controversy and confusion among critics in Israel and the White House. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, expressed confusion over Netanyahu's claims, while press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that they generally do not know what he is talking about. This incident occurred just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant traveled to Washington for meetings with senior officials. However, the statement from Gallant's office made no mention of the weapons issue, only stating that the discussions would focus on maintaining Israel's edge in the region.
The ongoing war in Gaza has put a strain on the U.S.-Israel relationship like never before. While the U.S. has shown support for Israel's goals of freeing hostages and defeating Hamas, they have also expressed concern over the rising death toll and humanitarian crisis caused by the war. President Biden has been under pressure from progressive Democrats to take a tougher stance against Israel and has even warned Netanyahu about military tactics used in Gaza. However, the administration has not suggested any consequences for Israel's actions.
As an election year, Biden is also facing criticism from the right, who accuse him of moderating his support for a critical ally in the Middle East. For Netanyahu, this growing divide with the U.S. poses both political risks and opportunities. While some criticize him for damaging important alliances and harming Israel's reputation for personal gain, others see this as a chance for Netanyahu to prove his independence and prioritize Israel's interests above all else.
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