President Biden and other senior U.S. officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rejection of most of the administration's recent requests related to the war in Gaza, four U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios.
Why it matters: Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack 100 days ago, Biden has given Israel his full backing, with unprecedented military and diplomatic support, even while taking a political hit from part of his base in an election year. That support has largely continued publicly, but behind the scenes, there are growing signs that Biden is losing his patience, the U.S. officials said.
- "The situation sucks and we are stuck. The president's patience is running out," one U.S. official told Axios.
- "At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who has been in close contact with U.S. officials about the war, told Axios. "They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again."
Behind the scenes: Biden hasn't spoken to Netanyahu in the 20 days since a tense Dec. 23 call, which a frustrated Biden ended with the words: "This conversation is over." They had spoken almost every other day in the first two months of the war.
- Before Biden hung up, Netanyahu had rejected his request that Israel release the Palestinian tax revenues it's withholding.
- National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tried to downplay the decrease in communication, telling reporters on Wednesday that "it doesn't say anything" about the state of the relationship.
- But more and more signs of irritation are emerging. "There is immense frustration," a U.S. official said.
Its fully within his power to pull 100% of the money Israel receives from the US and cut off all access to weapons. He has chosen not to.
It sure it. But then, the most powerful kingmaker in the US is AIPAC, if they withdraw their support of Biden, he will struggle in the presidential race.
Then the risk of a xenophobic wannabe dictator getting elected is put on the otherside of the scale.
So if you look at this from a purely US point of view. The tradeoff is brown people half a world away die, vs the US becoming trumplandia with all the vengeance he has promised to bestow on his political rivals.
So if it was your choice, what would you chose?
Edit to clarify: yes it's bizarre US allows PACs, corporations should not be treated as people, the situation is FUBAR.
Almost like money needs to get taken out of politics but not like those who use it to keep their people in power will let that happen
Our views align on the solution and the hurdles.
It saddens me that there is no young version of Senator Sanders, he would be good for the US.
I vote for no one needlessly dying anywhere.
If Trump wins a lot of people will die, just like last time.
Sure, I would too if it where in the table as an option. But alas, it seems it is not. I would venture a guess to say that the Biden administration would also take that option if it where available... But it seems to be a quagmire of unreasonable actors.
People are going to look back in AIPAC and wonder... how AI got a political action committee before chatgtp 6.0 passed the Turning test.
Ow. I laughed tho
Biden’s approval rating is 33%. AIPAC is of no consequence here - no incumbent in the history of US Federal elections has ever won with such abysmal polls in an election year. Not once, ever. Biden isn’t going to magically make history here, and his ego telling him he has to do 2 terms instead of allowing for a primary election so democracy can play out is the reason why.
Then he has the audacity to claim democracy is on the line this year. It’s already gone, America is just in denial about it.
The only saving grace is that Trump is also a uniquely unpopular political figure.
Yeah me too
But his opponent is also unprecedentedly unpopular, so we're basically in uncharted electoral territory such that the past isn't necessarily a good guide to the future.
Anyone who says they know how this all plays out is either a liar or in denial.
Israel wasn't popular with the other countries in the region before October, most of it's neighbors have called for it's destruction, US support is basically what keeps them in check.
Israel is not popular in the region BECAUSE of the US.
False. Israel isn't popular in the region because of israel.
Israel is not popular in the region because the others are extremely antisemitic. Let's stop pretending like the others are saints, please?
An old Zionist lie, conflate opposition to zionism with antisemitism
Nah the Houthis do seem pretty antisemitic, straight up.
Im no historian but i figured Israel wasn't popular in the region because the country of irael used to be the country of Palestine until another country decided to put israel there. I bet Egypt hated having a lot of its territory held for a long time as well after that one war but like i said I'm no history doctor
There's never been a country of Palestine, but you're right about not being a historian.....
damn, really? Why did something like a million people get displaced when israels borders for drawn in 1950 or whatever? I can't remember the details. Why did all those people get forced from their homes?
More like the US is not popular in the region because of Israel.
Israel isn't popular because the region wants a Pan Arabian state and having a Jewish one right in the middle doesn't allow them the caliphate they're going for.
That's not how government appropriations work.