Tensions between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are running high concerning U.S. grievances over Israel’s assassination of Hamas’s political leader and their role in the ongoing cease-fire negotiations. The discord between the two allies has heightened since the Gaza conflict started ten months ago.
Engaging in what could best be described as a tense dialogue on Thursday, Netanyahu rejection of Biden’s claim that the assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on Iranian soil may present an obstacle to a cease-fire agreement and jeopardize the release of hostages. A senior official from the Israeli administration dispelled any notions that Israel intentionally poses a hurdle to the cease-fire.
In defense of his country’s actions, Netanyahu underscored that while Haniyeh’s death as the main negotiator of cease-fire talks may cause a temporary halt, it will expedite the agreement process by exerting ample pressure on Hamas. Such a perspective seems inherently flawed to many given the delicacy of the situation, but it’s essentially a gleaning into Netanyahu’s mind.
Biden voiced his disapproval over what he perceived as poorly timed execution, amid anticipations of an impending resolution. The president was seemingly perturbed with the possibility that actions in Iran could flare up to a full-fledged regional war that he has been straining to prevent.
Unfortunately, the Israelis didn’t notify their American counterparts of their plan to exterminate Haniyeh, although Biden had quite recently hosted Netanyahu at the White House. The prime minister saw it fit to not implicate the Americans in their covert operation, leaving the U.S. officials in the dark, to which they surprisingly did not voice any objection.
Biden revealed his apprehension of the simmering situation in the Middle East during a brief discussion with reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, following the homecoming of three Americans released by Russia in a prisoner exchange. He tacitly hinted that the assassination did more harm than good to the prospect of a cease-fire agreement.
Despite disagreements, Netanyahu has commanded his negotiators to reconvene the cease-fire discussions in Cairo over the weekend. U.S. officials stand firm on their commitment to the cause, stating that despite minor disagreements on the draft proposal, the allegations against Netanyahu for continuously changing the agreement conditions were baseless.
As the internal squabbles between Biden and Netanyahu play out, cooperation in averting a potential Iranian attack in retaliation for Haniyeh assassination remains steadfast. Biden has deployed more naval assets and aircraft to the region with U.S. military personnel working in synergy with their Israeli counterparts to avert strikes from Iran.
Operational details from the senior Israeli government official showcase a palpable frustration about speculations that the prime minister has altered cease-fire terms. The official vehemently denies Israel adding new conditions, laying the blame on Hamas for amending 29 elements of the document.
However, the failure to reconcile notable points of contention remains stark. The initial phase of the three-stage cease-fire plan involves the exchange of hostages held by Hamas in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel during a break in military operations.
The Israelis are stern in their demand to maintain control of the Philadelphi corridor; a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, as a buffer against the entry of weapons and militants into Gaza. They have fervently refuted any rumours about vacating the tract.
Israel seeks the right to end their involvement in negotiations if it proves to be fruitless towards a permanent resolution and has the rights to recommence war activities. The officials perceive this as a safety measure against Hamas’s potential strategy to prolong the talks while remaining hostile.
The Israelis believe there’s a high chance that Biden’s pressure might result in a signal to Hamas that the U.S. does not genuinely support Israel. They believe this could deter the militia from negotiating an agreement. This could be seen as another of Biden’s fault—overstepping in their international relations.
During their Oval Office meeting in late July, Biden stressed Netanyahu’s need for a cease-fire agreement, even elevating his tone and urging the deal to be concluded within a fortnight. The U.S. official stated that the Israelis had altered some parts of the proposal that Biden and his team found to be troublesome and could hamper an agreement.