Netanyahu claims the US has significantly slowed down its military aid
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to express concerns over the U.S. purportedly withholding military support, a claim that has stirred contention with the Biden administration. In a recent statement echoed through various media engagements, Netanyahu alleged that the U.S. had been limiting weapon and ammunition supplies to Israel for months. This claim led to a series of discussions between Israeli and American officials, aiming to resolve what Netanyahu referred to as a “diminution of supply,” but to no avail.
Netanyahu highlighted his efforts to address the issue directly with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and emphasized the critical nature of the situation by releasing a video to publicize his concerns. Despite these efforts, U.S. officials, including National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, have countered Netanyahu’s claims, emphasizing ongoing substantial U.S. support for Israel’s defense, particularly in light of recent threats from regional adversaries such as Hamas.
The current tensions unfold against a backdrop of both leaders facing challenging political circumstances within their respective countries, further complicating the diplomatic friction. The U.S. continues to affirm its commitment to Israel’s security, with weapons deliveries reportedly in process according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew. The situation remains fraught with diplomatic sensitivities as both nations navigate this public disagreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is continuing his dispute with the Biden administration over whether the United States is holding up its military support.
Earlier this week, he came out with a video alleging that the U.S. “has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” and he has now claimed it has been going on for “months.” It sparked frustration within the administration, and U.S. officials have denied the allegations.
“We began to see that we had some significant problems emerging a few months ago. And in fact, we tried, in many, many quiet conversations between our officials and American officials, and between me and the president, to try to iron out this diminution of supply,” Netanyahu told Punchbowl News. “And we haven’t been able to solve it.”
The prime minister said he believes “it could be solved instantaneously with goodwill” but declined to explain what was prompting the alleged slowdown of weapons. “I felt that airing it was absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversation that did not solve the problem.”
“I raised this issue with Secretary [Antony] Blinken,” Netanyahu added. “And I said that we are being told by our Defense Department officials that barely a trickle is coming in. He said, ‘Well, everything is in process. We’re doing everything to untangle it. And to clear up the bottlenecks.’”
The Biden administration pushed back on Netanyahu’s claim and expressed its disappointment at it.
Netanyahu’s video “was perplexing, to say the least, certainly disappointing, especially given that no other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself against the threat by Hamas, and quite frankly, other threats that they’re facing in the region than the United States,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. “I think we’ve made it abundantly clear to our Israeli counterparts through various vehicles our deep disappointment in the statements expressed in that video and our concerns over the accuracy in the statements made.”
An NSC spokesperson declined to provide a response to Netanyahu’s new claims made in the interview and instead referred the Washington Examiner to Kirby’s remarks.
Netanyahu’s office said U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew told the prime minister on Tuesday that the ammunition and weapons he was referencing “are in the process of being delivered to Israel.”
The U.S. has provided Israel with significant military aid over the course of the war and deployed resources to the Middle East to deter Israeli adversaries from acting following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that left roughly 1,200 people dead and about 250 taken hostage.
Both Biden and Netanyahu face difficult domestic political landscapes. The U.S. president, a historically staunch Israel supporter, is facing backlash from the Democratic Party’s progressive side, which has called for him to demand an end to the war and to stop providing military aid to Israel.
Netanyahu recently disbanded the wartime cabinet. He is still beholden to the ultranationalist members of his coalition, whose wartime strategies are strongly opposed by most international leaders, and is facing questions from military leaders about war strategy.
The spokesman for Israel’s military has said the idea of eliminating Hamas “is wrong” because the group “is an idea,” which seemingly was an indirect criticism of the lack of public planning for how Israel will wind down the war and what happens after it ends.
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Netanyahu’s office indirectly responded to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari’s comments, saying, “The Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities as one of the goals of the war. The IDF, of course, is committed to this.”
He said Israel will have some role to play in preventing a “resurgent terrorist effort” while there will also be “a civilian administration to administer not only the distribution of humanitarian aid but also civil administration,” and he believes that should be done “with the cooperation” of Arab countries. There would also be “some kind of deradicalization process” and the reconstruction of Gaza.
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