Herzog visit to US legitimizes Washington's snubbing of Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
17 Jul 2023 15:41

The Israeli Occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is furious at Israeli Ambassador to the US Mike Herzog for scheduling a meeting between the US President Joe Biden and the Israeli Occupation President Isaac Herzog as Washington insists on snubbing Netanyahu.

Israel's Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Israel's President Isaac Herzog, make a joint statement after Herzog assigned Netanyahu the task of forming a government, in Occupied Al-Quds, Occupied Palestine Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP)

Israeli media reported on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious at Mike Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to Washington and also the brother of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

According to reports, Netanyahu "unleashed an angry tirade" at the ambassador saying “You should be doing more to obtain a White House invitation,” as he referenced a meeting for himself, given that Occupation President Herzog is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Tuesday of this week.

This comes to show a deeper schism, not only between the Israeli leaders but also between Netanyahu and Biden. Herzog is set to address both chambers of the US Congress as well as sit in a one-on-one meeting with Biden.

The report stated that the ambassador told Netanyahu "I have been working for many months on finding a date for the visit, and am working with the administration on the issue," showing the Biden administration's insistence on distancing Netanyahu. However, the report also highlighted that political sources have confirmed Netanyahu's displeasure with Herzog's visit to Washington was very deeply rooted.

The Prime Minister "thinks that the very fact of Herzog's visit legitimizes not inviting him to Washington anytime soon," Maariv's Hebrew report underscored.

Earlier, in March 2023, Biden publicly stated that he will not be inviting Netanyahu to Washington in "the near term" claiming that Netanyahu's insistence on moving forward with the judicial overhaul was the reason behind that decision.

Netanyahu inflicting 'strategic damage' on relations with US: Gantz

Israeli media reported that opposition figure and former Israeli occupation Security Minister, Benny Gantz, accused Netanyahu of inflicting "strategic damage" on relations with the United States.

The media cited Gantz as saying that "this is playing with fire at the expense of the Israelis."

The former Israeli Minister said that Netanyahu decided to "tear apart Israel," and while thousands took to the streets, "Netanyahu looks down on them, instead of trying to understand and embrace them."

Israeli media touched on US-Israeli relations on Tuesday amid internal division in Israeli society and widespread demonstrations in rejection of the Israeli occupation government's plans to approve judicial reforms that opponents argue would limit the powers of the Supreme Court.

A rare public exchange took place between Benjamin Netanyahu and #JoeBiden which signaled rising tension between "Israel" and the US, two close allies, over the Israeli Prime Minister's judicial reforms. pic.twitter.com/6OoTpgq6KR
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 29, 2023

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid tweeted that a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council told him, "We urge authorities in Israel to protect & respect the right of peaceful assembly."

Ravid suggested that "the White House statement is very unusual when it comes to an ally like Israel."

According to the Israeli journalist, the US statement "shows the growing concern of the Biden administration about the escalating internal unrest" in "Israel" and its consequences on the so-called "Israeli democracy".

Ravid cited the White House National Security Council spokesperson as saying that "the Biden administration continues to urge the Israeli government to stop the unilateral legislation process and seek a consensus-based approach toward judicial reform."

It is noteworthy that in late March, US President Joe Biden urged Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "walk away" from the judicial overhaul legislation, warning that "Israel" "cannot continue down this road."