US president’s remarks to Time magazine about PM’s role in conflict draw heavily critical response from Israeli government
Joe Biden has said that there is “every reason” to draw the conclusion that Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging the war in Gaza for his own political self-preservation.
Biden made the remarks about the Israeli prime minister in an interview with Time magazine published on Tuesday morning, drawing a sharp response from the Israeli government, which accused the US president of straying from diplomatic norms.
Netanyahu’s popularity plummeted after the 7 October attack by Hamas, which exposed serious flaws in Israeli security. Most political observers say Netanyahu would lose elections if they were held now, and would be forced into opposition, facing court hearings on corruption charges. But elections have been put off until the war is over, or at least until major military operations are deemed to have been completed.
Time asked Biden whether he believed Netanyahu was “prolonging the war for his own political self-preservation”.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” the president said in response, but added: “There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion.”
Biden cannot unilaterally stop providing aid to Israel without Congress. The allocation of foreign aid, including military assistance to Israel, is governed by laws and appropriations passed by Congress.
Please don’t misinterpret my lack of finger pointing to be support for Israel. Biden certainly could take a more outspoken position.
Both of those laws are in fact laws. Things that can only be passed by Congress and the President working together. If Congress does not repeal them then the President is still bound by them. The current Congress can appropriate as much money as it wants for a genocidal regime. According to the FSA and Leahy Law it should sit right in that bank account and never get sent to the genocidal regime.
Biden has all the legal cover he needs.
I’m not sure it’s that easy… but I do agree a lot more could be done. If even just a “temporary suspension” until further investigation.
It is exactly that easy.