US president’s remarks to Time magazine about PM’s role in conflict draw heavily critical response from Israeli government

US president’s remarks to Time magazine about PM’s role in conflict draw heavily critical response from Israeli government

Joe Biden has said that there is “every reason” to draw the conclusion that Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging the war in Gaza for his own political self-preservation.

Biden made the remarks about the Israeli prime minister in an interview with Time magazine published on Tuesday morning, drawing a sharp response from the Israeli government, which accused the US president of straying from diplomatic norms.

Netanyahu’s popularity plummeted after the 7 October attack by Hamas, which exposed serious flaws in Israeli security. Most political observers say Netanyahu would lose elections if they were held now, and would be forced into opposition, facing court hearings on corruption charges. But elections have been put off until the war is over, or at least until major military operations are deemed to have been completed.

Time asked Biden whether he believed Netanyahu was “prolonging the war for his own political self-preservation”.

“I’m not going to comment on that,” the president said in response, but added: “There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion.”

  • kamenLady.@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    It surely means something, when this was said by the American President and it definitely means more than what other countries said.

    America is THE Ally for Israel.

    Just like Germany, America can’t just drop Support for Israel. It’s the first time, one of the 2 “never turn by back to Israel” supporters made such a remark.

    Other countries saying something is like other kids in school talking about you.

    USA or Germany saying something is like Mom or Dad coming into your room and saying it to your face.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      6 months ago

      I’m sorry that wasn’t clear

      I meant other presidents of America.

      Who were all able to pull Israel back.

      When Obama did it, Biden publicly called him out

      Biden recounted in private that when he was vice president in 2014 and Israel mounted a military assault on Gaza, Obama and his staff rejected his belief, held for decades, that the best way to approach the Israelis is to hug them close but not criticize them, the people familiar with his comments said.

      Instead, they said Biden has noted, Obama publicly admonished Israel’s actions and voiced concern for Palestinian civilian deaths early into the 2014 conflict. As a result, Biden has argued, Obama squandered any ability to influence the Israeli government as it invaded Gaza, said the people familiar with his comments.

      They said Biden’s message when he revisited the 2014 debate was: I was right then, and I am right now.

      https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/biden-obama-divide-closely-support-israel-rcna127107

      The reason it’s gone this far, is Israel knows Biden will never stop supporting them. They can do whatever they want.

      • kamenLady.@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        6 months ago

        Consider my comment moot to your point.

        I see what you meant now and these are all facts that i agree overall.

        There are also European elections coming up. Together with the presidential election, the results will influence the 2 wars we have going on.

        But I’m afraid, the only choices are:

        • Everything continues like it is now

        • Everything will get much worse

        & I feel like we are straying far away from:

        • Make things better, for everyone
        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          6 months ago

          Yep.

          And the worst part about is “make things better, for everyone” not being picked, is that would make it a lot easier to avoid “everything will get much worse”.

          Say what you want about Bill and Obama’s actions while in office, but they were charismatic as hell and ran progressive campaigns. Campaigns that easily got them into and kept them in the White House.

          Yet for some reason when Trump showed up, we have to start running candidates like Hillary and Biden?

          There’s no rational reason behind it, if the only thing that matters is beating trump, we should give the voters what they want.

          We need to run candidates who are similar to Bill and Obama, not people that just used to stand next to them a lot like their wife or VP. Charisma doesn’t just rub off on people like that.