During a private fundraiser in Washington, DC on Friday, President Joe Biden did not mince his words when discussing the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Days after telling guests at the White House Hanukkah party of his admiration for Israel, Biden accused Israel of “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza and demanded that Netanyahu replace members of his governing coalition and accept a Palestinian state.
According to sources in attendance, Biden claimed that Israel’s actions in Gaza were unacceptable and that their indiscriminate bombing has caused the country to lose global support. “This is the most conservative government in Israel’s history,” the president proclaimed, “and they don’t want a two-state solution.”
This is not the first time Biden has criticized Israel and Netanyahu. In July, he explained his refusal to meet with the Israeli leader since his election in 2020, citing his government’s “extreme” members. As evidence, Biden highlighted Netanyahu’s reluctance to accept a Palestinian state and incorporate religious Zionist parties, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, into his coalition.
President Joe Biden trashed Israel and the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a private fundraiser in Washington, DC, on Friday, after telling guests at the White House Hanukkah party the night before of his admiration for Israel.https://t.co/GPVjTqXlbF
— Not El Chapo (@ScottEnlow) December 12, 2023
The accusation of “indiscriminate bombing” was met with strong pushback from Israeli officials. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari insisted that Israel targets carefully and presented evidence to the U.S. government to support their claim.
Hagari also mentioned that Israel has been especially cautious in their bombing of Gaza in recent weeks due to the presence of their own soldiers on the ground. This is a response to similar comments made by Biden during a fundraiser last month, in which he clarified that he believed the bombing was better targeted than initially believed.
Despite his criticism of Netanyahu and the Israeli government, Biden expressed his love and admiration for Israel at the White House Hanukkah party on Monday. He even declared himself a “Zionist,” although he noted that this may not sit well with certain regions of the country.
The relationship between Israel and the United States has been a source of tension in recent years, with Netanyahu repeatedly clashing with the Obama administration over the Iran nuclear deal and settlement expansion in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s opposition to America’s insistence on a Palestinian state and the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza has caused further strain in the relationship.
Despite their differences, Biden claimed he still holds a strong bond with Israel and Netanyahu, although they don’t see eye to eye on many issues. As the country faces ongoing challenges, it remains to be seen how their relationship will evolve under Biden’s administration and whether they can find common ground on critical issues in the Middle East.