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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed fresh frustration over the Biden administration’s military supplies to the Gaza war, as his defense minister headed to Washington for talks with senior U.S. officials.
Some Israeli media outlets had reported Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s visit, although preplanned, as a “reconciliation” trip aimed at defusing recent tensions with the country’s most important ally. Netanyahu’s and Biden administrations have been increasingly at odds over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with Netanyahu last week slamming the U.S. for withholding some heavy weaponry.
But on Sunday morning, Netanyahu reversed course. In a speech broadcast in Hebrew before the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, he thanked the Biden administration for supporting Israel throughout the eight-month war, but said “weapons supplies have decreased dramatically since four months ago.”
“For weeks we have been asking our American friends to speed up deliveries. We have done so many times,” Netanyahu said, adding that they had at times tried to work behind closed doors.
“We were given all the explanations, but there was one thing we didn’t understand: the basic situation hasn’t changed,” he continued, adding, “Some items have arrived little by little, but the bulk of the munitions have been left behind.”
The remarks came days after Prime Minister Netanyahu made aggressive statements. videoin English, slammed the Biden administration for withholding arms and ammunition at a time when Israel is, in Netanyahu’s words, “fighting for survival” against Iran and other common enemies.
U.S. authorities said at the time they had discovered the video. “Perplexing” It was hard to understand what Netanyahu was talking about. While the Israeli prime minister complained about “bottlenecks,” the Biden administration insisted it had only delayed one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs over concerns they would be used in populated areas of Gaza.
Sunday’s continued verbal spat and Gallant’s visit to the U.S. came at a critical juncture: After weeks of escalating tit-for-tat attacks between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, Israel has signaled it wants to end fighting in Gaza and turn its attention to its northern border with Lebanon.
The Biden administration is seeking a diplomatic solution to avoid an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. President Biden has also spent time and political capital to support an Israeli proposal for a Gaza ceasefire that would include an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has expressed serious reservations about the proposal, and talks have stalled.
Mr. Gallant had received an invitation to Washington from his colleague, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, according to his office. He was also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and other senior U.S. officials.
“The United States is our most important and central ally,” Gallant said shortly before departing. “Our bond is vital, perhaps more important now than ever before,” he added.
Mr. Gallant and Mr. Netanyahu are rivals who, despite jointly leading Israel’s military operations, have clashed publicly in recent months, with the Israeli prime minister sharply criticizing the White House while also sparring increasingly publicly with military brass and right-wing coalition partners.
Gaby Sobelman Contributed report.
