Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to double down on his claims that the United States has been withholding arms deliveries for Israel's war effort in Gaza, despite the The Biden administration denied the claim.
On Sunday, Netanyahu told his cabinet that there had been a “dramatic drop” in US weapons about four months ago, without specifying which weapons. He said only that “some items arrived sporadically, but ammunition generally lagged behind.”
The comments come just days after he released a video in English last week following what he said were weeks of unsuccessful pleas with US officials to speed up the deliveries.
“In light of what I have heard over the last day, I hope and believe that this matter will be resolved soon,” he said on Sunday, without elaborating.
A White House official told CBS News on Sunday that the administration “has made our position on this clear repeatedly and we will not continue to respond to the prime minister's policy statements. We look forward to constructive consultations with the defense secretary in Washington this week .”
Netanyahu's video last week caused an uproar among critics in Israel and was met with denial and confusion from White House officials.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said last week that the United States was “perplexed” by Netanyahu's claims.
“There is no other country that has done more or continues to do more than the United States to help Israel defend itself,” Kirby said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “We don't really know what he's talking about.”
A U.S. official told CBS News this week that Netanyahu's remarks in the video are apparently based on the belief of Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi that the U.S. is slowly to Israel in smaller ticket items such as aircraft spare parts.
However, the official insisted there had been no delay, except for the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, which were about to leave an East Coast weapons depot by ship when the delivery was delayed. stopped at the beginning of May.
The United States has been reviewing a shipment of 2,000 and 500-pound bombs since May. As Israel prepared for a major offensive in Rafah, the Biden administration stopped sending because, as President Biden said in an interview last month, “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a result of these bombs.
“I'm not supplying the weapons that have historically been used to deal with Rafah,” Biden said. However, the administration said the US would continue to provide support the Iron Dome, the system that protects Israel from rocket fire, and ensures that Israel is able to “respond to attacks” originating in the Middle East. The Pentagon says the US has continued to send weapons to Israel in the weeks since the May shipment pause.
The war in Gaza, which led to the October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel, has tested the US-Israel relationship like never before. While the United States has strongly supported Israel's goals of freeing hostages in Gaza and defeating Hamas, it has grown increasingly concerned about the mounting Palestinian death toll and the humanitarian crisis created by the war
Congressional Democrats on the fence about the address
Netanyahu is scheduled to address US lawmakers on July 24 and Democrats are scrambling over whether to attend. Many are torn between their long-standing support for Israel and their dismay at the way Israel has conducted operations in Gaza.
The last time Netanyahu addressed the US Congress nine years ago, 60 Democrats skipped his speech, calling it a slap in the face to then-President Barack Obama as he negotiated a nuclear deal with the Iran.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
While some Democrats say they will walk out of respect for Israel, a larger and growing faction wants no part of it, creating an extraordinarily charged atmosphere at a meeting that normally amounts to a ceremonial, bipartisan show of support for an ally american
The invitation from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to Netanyahu came after consultation with the White House, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. So far, no meeting has been scheduled between Biden and Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, this person said.
Netanyahu said in a statement that he was “very excited” by the invitation to address Congress and the opportunity “to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and of the whole world”.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opposed an invitation to the prime minister in 2015, said it was a mistake for congressional leadership to extend it again this time.
“I think it's going to invite more than we've seen in terms of discontent among our people,” he recently told CNN.
The Associated Press reported that interviews with more than a dozen Democrats revealed the breadth of discontent over the upcoming speech, which many see as a Republican ploy aimed at dividing their party.
Some Democrats say they will attend to express their support for Israel, not Netanyahu. Others said they are waiting to see if Netanyahu will still be prime minister when he is supposed to address Congress.
Netanyahu's visit is expected to draw major protests, and some members of Congress are planning an alternative event.
Open signs of discontent in Israel
Netanyahu's government is a coalition that includes right-wing extremists who oppose any deal with Hamas.
Benjamin “Benny” Gantz, a former military chief and centrist politician, he retired from Netanyahu's war cabinet this month, citing frustration at the wartime prime minister's conduct. Monday, Netanyahu dissolved this body. Meanwhile, a growing number of critics and protesters in Israel have backed a proposed ceasefire that would bring home hostages taken by Hamas.
Leo Correa / AP
For Netanyahu, the growing daylight with the US also poses political risks and opportunities. His critics see the public spats as the result of a leader willing to tear apart important alliances and tarnish Israel's image in the world for political gain.
But the rift gives the longtime leader a chance to show his base that he is not beholden to the US and is putting Israel's interests first.
