US distrust in Israeli gov. impedes talks on post-war plans: Official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
3 Mar 2024 23:31

Amos Yadlin has stated that without positive relations with the US, none of the plans for "Israel" following the war could be effectuated.

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, pauses during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP)

Former Israeli Airforce General and head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman) Amos Yadlin discussed the importance of "Israel's" relation with the United States in establishing a ceasefire in the North of occupied Palestine and the post-war situation in Gaza.

In an interview with Channel 12, Yadlin emphasized that there are contrasting perspectives between "Israel" and the United States regarding the prolongation of the war.

"At the beginning of the war, we had the US' support on all fronts. It supplied us with weapons, helped us defy the Iranians and Hezbollah, and vetoed resolutions that would harm us at the UN Security Council."

However, he proceeded to stress two major issues the US and "Israel" should compromise on. "First, the issue of Gaza post-war, because the Americans keep asking how we ensure victory and what we plan to do after. Second, they urge us not to escalate the situation in the North and avoid transforming it into a regional war."

He clarified that discussions need to occur to find common ground and prove that the occupation government is not ruled by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, which has created a sense of distrust and aversion to negotiation between the US and "Israel".

Therefore, he added, "Israel has a great interest in immediately establishing a prisoner-exchange deal, a ceasefire in the north, and normalization of ties [with Saudi Arabia], and none of that would be possible without maintaining constructive relations with the US."

Conflict in the War Cabinet

Commenting on Benny Gantz's invitation to Washington, he admitted it was unconventional to travel for governmental talks without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau's approval, however, Gantz possesses a great deal of appreciation from the US. He added that Gantz should have been directed instead of scolded for this particular reason.

Earlier, a fierce confrontation broke out between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz after the latter made a trip to Washington without consulting with the Prime Minister. Netanyahu's associates conveyed that "the Prime Minister has made it clear to Gantz that the State of Israel only has one Prime Minister."

Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Mike Herzog, will not deal with Gantz's visit to the United States and will miss the meetings he will hold with the senior Biden administration in response to Netanyahu's orders, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported.

Netanyahu's orders go against diplomatic norms, under which the embassy coordinates any visit made by any minister to any foreign country.

Maariv quoted senior Israeli officials as saying Gantz wants out of the War Cabinet but cannot do anything about that before the war ends and the Israeli captives are returned, especially as he does not have the popularity to take such a decision.

The concept of 'victory'

Former Israeli Security Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Netanyahu's government has reached its demise.

Speaking with the Israeli Occupation's Army Radio, Lieberman predicted that war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, would declare its end.

Lieberman stressed that Israeli settlers have given Netanyahu's government confidence for 5 months during the Israeli war on Gaza but "this is over now" as the occupation has failed to achieve its goals, specifically that of "destroying Hamas."

These failures have ignited several internal conflicts between Israeli officials on different liability issues, in parallel with many protests in "Tel Aviv" urging the occupation government to opt for the captives deal.

Former Deputy Chairman of the occupation's "National Security Council", Eran Etzion, confirmed that Netanyahu's government has been "lying" as no "military solutions" can solve the settlers' problems in the North or the South.

Speaking with Israeli Channel 13, he added that it is no coincidence that Netanyahu's government has not solved "the issue of Hamas" in Gaza for five months since October 7 stressing that the latter is due to "failed administration".