President Biden on Wednesday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demand a “significant de-escalation” in Israel’s conflict with Hamas. But Netanyahu said he won’t comply.
Netanyahu instead said that he will forge ahead with Israeli operations against the Islamic fundamentalist group, which last week launched a barrage of rockets from Gaza toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Israeli leader said in a statement released after the two leaders spoke, “I am determined to continue this operation until its goal is achieved: to bring the quiet and security back to you, the citizens of Israel.”
Biden told Netanyahu to move toward a ceasefire amid pressure from Democrats in Congress. The US leader initially gave explicit support for Israel’s airstrikes earlier in the days-long conflict.
“The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” the White House said in a readout of Biden’s Wednesday call.
Biden and Netanyahu “had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza” and about “Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements,” the White House said.
The official readout did not specifically mention US support for Israel’s military campaign. The omission contrasts with prior White House statements.
The White House readout of Biden’s Monday call with Netanyahu said, for example, “The President reiterated his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks.”
Biden has spoken four times with the Israeli leader in the past week as civilian casualties mount on both sides of the conflict but particularly in Gaza, which has been ruled by Hamas since 2007.
Although Biden at first defended Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, he on Monday began to urge Netanyahu to pursue a ceasefire, which Republican critics denounced as a break with Israel.
On Tuesday, Biden spoke for nearly eight minutes with Israel critic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on the tarmac of Detroit’s airport before praising her as a “fighter” during a speech. The Palestinian-American congresswoman is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and has colorfully denounced Israel’s “apartheid government,” calling on Biden to scrap a pending $735 million arms sale that she said could be used to “kill children and families.”
Biden faces a growing faction of Israel critics within his party in Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other members of the progressive “Squad.”
Criticism of Israel’s campaign has focused on disproportionate civilian casualties reported by Hamas in the crowded and poor Gaza Strip, but also on the destruction of a 13-story building that housed the offices of the Associated Press. Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Tuesday said that Israel’s government provided the US with evidence to support its claim that Hamas was also working out of the tower.
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