Netanyahu sending delegation to White House for talks on Rafah attack
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Netanyahu's office agreed to send Israeli officials to Washington to discuss a potential attack on Rafah, reversing the earlier cancellation of their visit
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in occupied al-Quds, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to send two senior Israeli officials to Washington as soon as next week for talks regarding a potential attack on Rafah, according to four US and Israeli officials who spoke with Axios.
According to a report by Axios, Netanyahu's decision to send the same officials to Washington marks a significant change, considering that just on Monday, he had canceled their trip in protest of the US' failure to veto a UN Security Council resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of captives held by Hamas. That said, the fallout from the canceled trip and the stalemate in captive negotiations has further strained the already deteriorating relations between Netanyahu and the Biden administration.
"The Prime Minister's office has agreed to reschedule the meeting dedicated to Rafah," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday, adding that the discussions about Rafah are "urgent."
According to a US official speaking to Axios, canceling the trip and the subsequent rhetoric surrounding it was deemed "an unnecessary drama on Netanyahu's part." A senior Israeli official agreed, saying, "Bibi made a mistake."
Earlier on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US is unable to verify media reports suggesting that Netanyahu is seeking to reschedule a canceled visit by an Israeli delegation to Washington for next week.
This comes after Netanyahu announced on March 25 that he had canceled an Israeli delegation's trip to Washington after the US refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Read next: Biden, Netanyahu on collision course after US abstained from UNSC vote
Before heading to Washington for a meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Gallant emphasized the importance of reaching a consensus on the matter, stating that it is crucial for the Israeli army's effectiveness and continued operation. He urged for a compromise to be reached on the issue.
“This coming Tuesday, a proposal for a decision on the recruitment issue will be brought to the government by the prime minister, on his initiative,” he stressed. “My position has not changed. I will not be a party to any proposal that isn’t agreed upon by all coalition factions — and under my leadership, the security system will not submit it for legislation.”
US abstains from UNSC vote
On Monday, the UN Security Council passed the resolution to implement a ceasefire in Gaza. Instead of vetoing the resolution, the US abstained from the vote. The abstention sparked outrage within the Israeli leadership, with Netanyahu lashing out at his allies for allegedly abandoning "Israel" in the UN.
"You cannot say you support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself and then oppose Israel when it exercises that right... You cannot say you support Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas and then oppose Israel when it takes the actions necessary," Netanyahu said following the vote on the resolution.
The day the meeting was canceled, 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.
