Netanyahu inflicting 'strategic damage' on relations with US: Gantz
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The opposition figure and former Israeli occupation Security Minister says Netanyahu "is playing with fire at the expense of the Israelis."
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Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz makes joint statements with his Greek counterpart (unseen) at the Israeli Security Ministry "Tel Aviv", on January 20, 2022 (AFP)
Israeli media reported that opposition figure and former Israeli occupation Security Minister, Benny Gantz, accused Prime Minister Benjamin 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."
On Tuesday, Israeli media touched on US-Israeli relations 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.
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."
Why it matters: The White House statement is very unusual when it comes to an ally like Israel and shows the growing concern of the Biden administration about the escalating internal unrest in the country and its consequences for the Israeli democracy https://t.co/dNt5UTvvNk
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) July 11, 2023
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."
When asked whether he would be inviting Netanyahu to the White House, the US President said, "Not in the near term."
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
The Israeli Walla news website considered that "it is inconceivable that we have reached the day when the White House issues such a statement about Israel regarding the right to peaceful protest," deeming it "an unprecedented for Israeli democracy."
On its part, the Israeli Makan TV mentioned that the US embassy will remain without an ambassador after the end of Ambassador Tom Nides' term.
Read more: Over 10k settlers protest at Ben Gurion Airport, clash with police
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
