Netanyahu says ready to stomach personal attacks so 'Israel' gets arms
3 Min Read
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is ready to receive backlash if it means "Israel" gets its arms.
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People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of captives held in Gaza in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, May 18, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday his readiness to endure personal criticism if it ensures that the Israeli occupation receives the necessary ammunition from the United States to sustain the genocide in Gaza.
This statement comes after a contentious week marked by a video Netanyahu posted on social media on Tuesday, where he accused the US of withholding military support.
Speaking in English, Netanyahu claimed in the video that it was "inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel."
Publicly, the White House expressed bafflement. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed out that only one weapons shipment had been paused since the war began, while billions of dollars worth of weapons had continued to flow unimpeded.
"We genuinely do not know what he is talking about," she said.
"I am willing to absorb personal attacks if that is what it takes for Israel to get the arms and ammunition it needs in its war for survival," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by his office on X.
Biden's team has been furious and shocked by Netanyahu's ingratitude. Some US officials who viewed the video said Netanyahu appeared "disturbed".
The video was published while President Biden's envoy, Amos Hochstein, was traveling between occupied al-Quds and Beirut to ease tensions on the northern front. Hochstein was scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Tuesday evening to brief him on discussions with Lebanese officials and explore ways to avoid war.
According to three sources familiar with the matter, the meeting between Hochstein and Netanyahu was "tense." Hochstein and the US Ambassador to the Israeli occupation reportedly spent a significant portion of the meeting delivering a stern message to Netanyahu about the crisis he had provoked.
All US officials involved expressed confusion about Netanyahu's objectives, aside from scoring domestic political points. Some speculated that Netanyahu's remarks might be part of a credibility contest with Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant, who is expected to visit Washington next week.
The diplomatic strain escalated further as the White House reportedly canceled a high-level meeting between US and Israeli officials scheduled for Thursday, in response to Netanyahu's video address.
The tension over military aid is not new. In May, the US paused a shipment of heavy bombs to the Israeli occupation, citing concerns about their use in densely populated areas such as the city of Rafah. However, the White House clarified on Tuesday that there were no additional pauses in place.
