Did Trump advise Netanyahu to reject ceasefire to block Harris win?

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
21 Aug 2024 14:10
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Donald Trump is reportedly advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a move that could potentially breach the Logan Act.

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Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a conference in Oworn Hill, on February 24, 2024. (AP)

Although no longer in office, former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump has been discussing "Israel’s"war on Gaza with key figures. However, he is not intending to end the war.

Instead, Trump is reportedly engaging with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent a ceasefire agreement, believing that such a deal could boost Vice President Kamala Harris' chances of winning the November election, The New Republic quoted the PBS reporting.

“The reporting is that former President Trump is on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, urging him not to cut a deal right now, because it’s believed that would help the Harris campaign,” said PBS’ Judy Woodruff Monday night.

“So, I don’t know where—who knows whether that will come about or not, but I have to think that the Harris campaign would like for President Biden to do what presidents do, and that’s to work on that one,” Woodruff added.

Both Netanyahu's office and Trump denied the claims.

It wasn’t clear right away whether Woodruff was talking about a new report or referring to an Axios story from last week. That story mentioned two US sources who said that Trump and Netanyahu had discussed a ceasefire and Gaza captive negotiations over the phone.

During a press conference in New Jersey on Thursday, Trump mentioned their meeting at Mar-a-Lago from the previous month, saying: “I did encourage him to get this over with. You want to get it over with fast. Have victory, get your victory, and get it over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop,”

However, he also expressed criticism of the calls for a ceasefire.

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In his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, President Biden pledged that his administration is working tirelessly to provide “humanitarian assistance to Gaza,” promote “peace and security in the Middle East,” and achieve a “cease-fire” to end the ongoing war.

He also acknowledged the over 3,500 protesters in Chicago who rallied on Monday, calling for an immediate cease-fire, and conceded that their demands are valid. Since the war began 10 months ago, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by "Israel".

Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, who fled the country in December, reported on Monday that the humanitarian area in southern Gaza covers only about 14 square miles.

“Crammed in it are more than 1.8 million people, with no water, no electricity, no food, no clinics or pharmacies, and no shelters,” he wrote.

In a separate post, he expressed frustration, saying he cannot comprehend how the US government continues to finance what he describes as genocide while failing to end it and compel the aggressors to stop bombing Gaza.