Israel Netanyahu begins US visit amid furor over Biden withdrawal
In the midst of the turmoil surrounding US President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race for another term in office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to the United States today for an official visit.
22.07.2024, 05:18
SDA
It is still "too early" to say what consequences Biden's decision could have for Israel's conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, the Washington Post quoted a source in Netanyahu's office as saying. According to Israeli media reports, a meeting with Biden scheduled for Tuesday will take place as planned.
Biden and Netanyahu last met in person in Tel Aviv last fall, shortly after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7, which triggered the Gaza war. According to media reports, the planned talks with Biden will primarily focus on efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Shortly before his departure, Netanyahu decided to send a delegation to Qatar on Thursday.
Hostage negotiations to continue
The sluggish indirect negotiations with Hamas, in which Qatar, the USA and Egypt are mediating, are to be continued there. According to analysts, the changing political winds in Washington could strengthen Netanyahu at a crucial time in the negotiations, wrote the Washington Post. US officials have acknowledged that US President Biden's recent increasing domestic political problems have coincided with a hardening of Netanyahu's position.
For example, after Hamas had recently shown more flexibility, Netanyahu made new demands - such as for Israeli troops to remain in strategic locations in the Gaza Strip for longer. For this reason, the talks have not made any headway recently. The US negotiators had feared that Netanyahu's new demands would cause the talks to collapse, according to the US newspaper. It initially remained unclear whether Netanyahu had now given his new delegation a more generous negotiating mandate.
Protests before Netanyahu's departure
On the eve of his departure to the USA, hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in front of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The participants in the rally called on Netanyahu not to travel until he has signed an agreement to release the 120 hostages, reported the news portal "haaretz.com". The nephew of a hostage said: "Most citizens know that Netanyahu only makes decisions based on his personal interests." They would recognize that he is sabotaging the indirect hostage talks.
Netanyahu governs in a coalition with ultra-religious and far-right parties that refuse to make concessions to Hamas and are threatening to break up the government alliance. According to the polls, Netanyahu would not be in a good position in the event of early elections. His strained relationship with Biden has deteriorated significantly in recent months, as Israel has been confronted with numerous requests from the White House to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and do more to protect the civilian population.
In May, the US government halted a shipment of heavy bombs out of concern that they could be used in populated areas. Critics accuse Netanyahu of dragging out the war for his own political advantage - an accusation he rejects. Netanyahu insists that Israel must fight until Hamas is completely destroyed. A goal that is doubted even within his own military. "Anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is mistaken," said army spokesman Daniel Hagari last month.
Netanyahu wants to address US Congress
While leading figures in Israel, including President Izchak Herzog and Defense Minister Joav Galant, publicly thanked Biden for his support of Israel, there was initially no reaction from Netanyahu to Biden's withdrawal, as the Times of Israel noted. On Wednesday, he plans to give a speech to both chambers of the US Congress on Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has long been criticized for allying himself with Republicans under Donald Trump, wrote the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, the Israeli air force has once again attacked the militia's positions in southern Lebanon after being fired on by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. The Israeli army announced in the evening that a rocket launching facility had been bombed. In addition, a Hezbollah observation post and "terror infrastructure" were attacked. No further details were given. The information could not be independently verified. Hezbollah is said to have previously attacked northern Israel with rockets and drones.
Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia have been fighting almost daily since the start of the Gaza war. Recently, the intensity of the fighting has increased significantly. There have been casualties on both sides. According to its own statements, Hezbollah is acting out of solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There have long been fears that the conflict could escalate.
