Axios: Biden pushes Netanyahu to end war before US elections
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Biden again asks for a ceasefire and stresses that the captives deal and ending the siege on Gaza are a top priority.
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US President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, to discuss the Israeli war in Gaza in Occupied Palestine, on Oct. 18, 2023. (AP)
Two US officials informed Axios that last week, President Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "scale down the Israeli military operation in Gaza", stressing he "is not in it for a year of war."
Last Friday, Biden held a call with Netanyahu, and urged Netanyahu to end the war before the November elections, reflecting growing US concern about the continuation of the war.
This was prompted by the White House's concern about losing young voters, many of whom are pro-Palestine, a Biden adviser told Axios.
Another close source to the White House stated that Biden would not be able to control the news cycle as the election nears with the ongoing Israeli war against Gaza and perpetually increasing death toll. However, both the White House and Netanyahu declined to comment.
A day before the call, Netanyahu said the war would continue for "many more months." Biden urged Netanyahu to move faster "to low-intensity operations" that would "decrease the number of civilian casualties", two US officials said. They added that Biden criticized Netanyahu for his strategy stating that he does not understand the "end state" he is envisioning.
UN mission must be allowed
Netanyahu's response was the transition to "low-intensity fighting took place in northern Gaza" and will happen in the south, but "Israel" needs more time than it originally thought claiming that "Hamas would return " if his occupation forces left now.
According to a source close to the conversation, during the call, Biden stressed to Netanyahu the importance of allowing a UN mission into northern Gaza to "assess the conditions for the future return of Palestinian civilians," adding that flour should be moved through "Ashdod port" to Gaza, and urging the occupation to allow the delivery of aid from Jordan through the Karam Abu Salem border checkpoint. Netanyahu agreed, as per the source's statement.
A huge portion of the mentioned call also focused on the ongoing talks aimed at reaching a deal to secure the release of the more than 130 captives being held in Gaza, according to the source, as US officials believe this is the only solution possibly leading to a ceasefire.
Brett McGurk, Biden's senior Middle East advisor, was in Egypt and Qatar this week to discuss the captives negotiations.
The above-mentioned call was the first between Biden and Netnayhu in nearly a month, as Biden has been extremely frustrated with Netanyahu. During a previous call on Dember 23, a furious Biden ended the call by saying the "conversation is over" and hanging up the phone.
US-'Israel' in disagreement for a while now
On January 18, Washington stressed again that it believes "the creation of a Palestinian state is the only way to guarantee Israel's long-term security," opposing statements being made by Israeli officials.
Netanyahu had said the day before that the occupation "must have security control over all the territory west of the Jordan (River)," labeling it as a necessary condition, then proceeding to say that this "conflicts with the idea of Palestinian sovereignty."
US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, commented on Netanyahu's statement assuring that Washington and "Israel" definitely see it differently.
Netanyahu seemed unbothered as he insisted that "a prime minister in Israel should be able to say no, even to our best friends -- to say no when necessary, and to say yes if possible," referencing the United States.
