President Joe Biden has escalated his public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that the ongoing military offensive in Gaza by the right-wing leader is doing more harm than good to Israel. However, Biden remains committed to providing weapons to the country.
In an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart that aired on Saturday, Biden reiterated the White House’s stance on Netanyahu’s right to defend Israel and continue the pursuit of Hamas. This comes after a devastating attack on October 7th, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel, with around 250 being taken hostage.
Aid organizations are sounding the alarm about a dire starvation crisis in the enclave, with north Gaza being particularly hard hit. This crisis has tragically claimed the lives of dozens, including innocent children. It is important to note that the reported number of hunger-related deaths only includes those who were able to reach hospitals, many of which have been destroyed during the ongoing bombardment.
“He needs to prioritize and acknowledge the devastating loss of innocent lives resulting from his actions,” Biden expressed his concerns about Netanyahu. “In my opinion, he is causing more harm than good to Israel by tarnishing its image in the eyes of the international community. This goes against the very principles that Israel stands for, and I believe it is a significant error.”
During a conversation with Axel Springer, the parent company of Politico, on Sunday, Netanyahu expressed his uncertainty about the exact meaning behind President Biden’s statement. However, he firmly disagreed with the notion that he was acting against Israel’s interests and emphasized that Biden would be incorrect on both counts.
According to Netanyahu, the Israeli people share his stance on rejecting the imposition of a Palestinian state. He emphasizes that this is a viewpoint that resonates with them and enjoys their support.
After delivering his State of the Union address on Thursday, Biden was inadvertently recorded saying that he needed to have a heartfelt discussion with the Israeli prime minister. When Capehart questioned him further about his statement, the president clarified that he used the phrase to refer to “a significant and important meeting.”
“I’ve known Bibi for 50 years, and he understood exactly what I meant,” he said, referring to the prime minister by his nickname.
President Biden’s remarks on Saturday indicate a heightened level of criticism towards Netanyahu. This comes after a period of time where the White House has positioned itself as unwaveringly supportive of the Israeli government and its military campaign, which receives substantial funding and weaponry from the United States government.
However, despite expressing his concern publicly, Biden has consistently refused to link U.S. support for Israel with the country’s compliance with international law.
During the interview, Capehart questioned President Biden about whether he has set a red line with Prime Minister Netanyahu and if Israel’s possible ground invasion in Rafah, where over 1.3 million Palestinians are seeking refuge after being displaced, would cross that line. The United States has previously cautioned Israel against launching such an offensive.
In a resolute manner, Biden emphasized the importance of Israel’s defense, stating, “The defense of Israel is still critical. So, while there may be limits, I will never abandon Israel completely. They will always have the necessary means, such as the Iron Dome, to protect themselves.”
The president, while emphasizing the significance of a Rafah invasion as a red line, chose not to disclose the specific repercussions that Israel would face for disregarding the warnings issued by the U.S. government.
Biden emphasized that it is not acceptable to have an additional 30,000 Palestinians lose their lives in the pursuit of the militants. He highlighted that there are alternative methods for Netanyahu to address the emotional distress inflicted by Hamas.
During my initial visit to Israel, I had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with him and the War Cabinet. I emphasized the significance of avoiding the same mistake that America had made. It was crucial to learn from our past actions. While we successfully pursued Osama bin Laden, becoming embroiled in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan proved unnecessary and only exacerbated the existing issues.
According to reports, Netanyahu has made a bold declaration to defy Biden’s “red line” and proceed with an invasion of Rafah, asserting that he enjoys the backing of various undisclosed Arab leaders.
“We will definitely go there. We have no intentions of leaving,” assured the prime minister in a conversation with Axel Springer. “I have a clear boundary, a red line if you will. Do you know what that red line is? It is to ensure that an incident like Oct. 7 never occurs again. We will make sure of it.”
Critics in the United States and aid organizations are increasingly condemning the president for his hypocritical stance on the Palestinian civilian crisis. Despite expressing concern over their plight, the president continues to provide military support to Israel, which is responsible for causing their suffering. Additionally, the United States has vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions that called for a cease-fire. Instead, they are attempting to negotiate a temporary pause in fighting to facilitate hostage exchanges and the delivery of aid. However, as of now, Israel and Hamas have not reached an agreement on this matter.
The White House has begun delivering aid to Gaza through airdrops and is actively working on establishing a maritime corridor to provide assistance by sea. This decision highlights the fact that the United States needs to find alternative routes to bypass Israel, its main ally in the Middle East, as the country has been obstructing the entry of the majority of aid convoys into the enclave. On the eve of Ramadan, desperate residents of Gaza eagerly sought out the airdropped aid, although a local resident informed The Associated Press that a significant portion of the aid ends up in the sea.
Biden, on the other hand, is still halting the funding to the U.N. agency that is dedicated to assisting Palestinians, following Israel’s claim that 12 workers out of thousands were involved in the Oct. 7 attack. Despite this, some countries that initially suspended their contributions to UNRWA have now resumed their support. UNRWA has also agreed to undergo external audits to address the hunger crisis.
Avril Benoit, the executive director of the U.S. branch of Doctors Without Borders, expressed her discontent with the president’s temporary seaport plan, deeming it a blatant diversion from the actual issue at hand: Israel’s indiscriminate and disproportionate military campaign and the punishing siege.
“The people in Gaza are in dire need of food, water, and medical supplies, which are currently located just across the border. Instead of blocking the flow of these essential items, Israel should take steps to facilitate their delivery,” emphasized Benoit. He further emphasized that this issue is not merely a matter of logistics but primarily a political problem.
