'Israel' goes ballistic on UNSC res.; leaving US 'very disappointed'
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Israeli officials have gone ballistic over the UNSC's ceasefire resolution.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers a speech during the Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable session at the Third Summit for Democracy in Seoul on March 18, 2024. (AFP)
The US is "very disappointed" by the cancellation of an Israeli delegation's scheduled visit to discuss concerns about a possible attack on Rafah, the White House announced.
National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the US was disappointed they would not be able to have a "fulsome conversation" about the "viable alternatives" to a Rafah attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he will not send a team to Washington after the US declined to veto a United Nations Security Council measure calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, opting instead for an abstention.
Following the vote, the United Nations Security Council requested an immediate ceasefire between the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian Resistance, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all captives.
The resolution was sponsored by the body's ten elected members, and the remaining 14 council members voted for it.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield claimed that the US was "working around the clock" to drive "diplomacy on the ground," adding that a ceasefire could only take effect if the Palestinian Resistance movement, Hamas, released the first captive.
"In light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided the delegation would not leave," a statement from his office revealed.
The statement added that Washington's failure to veto the idea was a "clear retreat" from its earlier position and would jeopardize the war on Gaza and the "efforts to release over 130 captives."
In a related context, a US official told reporters that the United States is "perplexed" by "Israel's" abrupt decision on Monday to withdraw from scheduled talks this week about Gaza and considers it an overreaction to US abstention from a UN vote.
The official told a small group of reporters that domestic political tensions in "Israel" probably were responsible for Netanyahu's decision not to send an Israeli delegation to Washington for the talks.
President Joe Biden has no plans to call Netanyahu about the decision nor did Netanyahu call Biden about it in advance, the official added.
Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of attempting to shift attention away from a schism in his coalition over a military conscription bill at the price of relations with the US.
"It's shocking irresponsibility from a prime minister who has lost it," Lapid commented on X.
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant from the US said, “We have no moral right to stop the war in Gaza until we return all the hostages to their homes. If we don’t reach a clear and absolute victory in Gaza, it could bring a war in the north closer."
However, the United States said Monday it will find ways to warn "Israel" against an attack on Rafah, after a delegation to discuss US concerns was scrapped.
"We believe this type of full-scale invasion would be a mistake, not just because of the civilian harm that it would cost which would be immense," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, adding that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would likely discuss Rafah with the visiting Israeli Security Minister.
"I am sure we will find other ways to make our concerns known," Miller said, adding, "This type of invasion would weaken Israel's security and would make Israel less safe, not more safe. It would undermine its standing in the world."
On his part, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan blasted the Security Council for adopting a resolution that doesn’t condition a ceasefire on the release of the captives, although the resolution equally calls for this move.
“Sadly, it’s for the same reason why you can condemn terror attacks in Russia and Iran, but not in Israel. To this Council, Israeli blood is cheap. This is a travesty and I’m disgusted,” he said.
US rushes to reassure "Israel", no shift in policy
Rushing to reassure its genocidal ally, Kirby urged "Israel" not to think the vote was a "shift in our policy," further explaining that the US abstained due to a lack of condemnation of Hamas in the text.
"We've been consistent in our support (for) a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal," Kirby argued.
Although the trip has been scrapped, Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant will make a separate visit and, according to the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with him on Tuesday.
Pentagon Spokesperson Maj. General Pat Ryder told reporters that the discussions would address efforts to release Israeli captives as well as "the need for more humanitarian aid" to reach Palestinians. The statement also detailed they would discuss the ensuring of the safety of more than a million Palestinians in Rafah.
"Israel" has repeatedly indicated that a Rafah attack is imminent and demonstrated a clear disregard for humanitarian aid entering the Strip, as well as the displacement of Palestinians or their safety.
Netanyahu informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting on Friday that 'Israel' will enter Rafah with or without US help.
According to Netanyahu's office, the Prime Minister reminded the Secretary of State during a Friday meeting that the occupation appreciates US assistance for its war on Gaza. According to a statement from Netanyahu's office, "I told him I hope we do it with US support, but if we have to, we'll do it alone."
US VP does not rule out consequences for 'Israel' if it invades Rafah
US Vice President Kamala Harris did not rule out consequences for "Israel" if it decides to invade the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
"Let me tell you something: I have studied the maps. There's nowhere for those folks to go. And we're looking at about 1.5 million people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there most of them … I am ruling out nothing," Harris said in an interview for ABC News.
In mid-March, NBC News mentioned that US officials claim the US is contemplating possible response options if "Israel" invades Rafah against the US administration's warnings and without a plan to protect civilians.
It added that the US allegedly warned "Israel" against carrying out a full-scale invasion in Rafah and suggested smaller and more targeted actions.
Netanyahu said he had told Blinken that there was "no way to defeat Hamas" without troops invading Rafah, where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge amid the ongoing Israeli aggression.
Before he met with Netanyahu, the US Secretary of State considered on Thursday that "Hamas can be effectively dealt with without a major ground operation in Rafah."
