US president’s remarks to Time magazine about PM’s role in conflict draw heavily critical response from Israeli government

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.”

  • WamGams@lemmy.caEnglish
    73·
    6 months ago

    Biden essentially just told the world the US has no faith in Netanyahu leadership, which is essentially telling the Likkud to disband and form a new coalition government.

    I get that you guys are demanding he use a word that the ICC has refused to use, but he is laying the groundwork yo accomplish an end to this but it doesn’t fit your narrative.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      125·
      6 months ago

      Biden essentially just told the world the US has no faith in Netanyahu leadership

      I suggest you read the actual interview, although it’s hard to understand what Biden says before the media trims it into sound bites.

      Interviewer: Not at all. Some in Israel have suggested that Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political self-preservation. Do you believe that?

      Biden: I’m not going to comment on that. There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion. And I would cite tha as—before the war began, the blowback he was getting from the Israeli military for wanting to change the constitu—change the court. And so it’s an internal domestic debate that seems to have no consequence. And whether he would change his position or not, it’s hard to say, but it has not been helpful.

      https://time.com/6984968/joe-biden-transcript-2024-interview/

      He also blames Hamas that there’s no ceasefire:

      And whose fault is it that the that deal, the ceasefire for hostages has not been consummated? Is it Hamas or Israel or both?

      Biden: Hamas. Hamas could end this tomorrow. Hamas could say (unintelligible) and done period. And, but, and the last offer Israel made was very generous in terms of who they’d be willing to release, what they’d give in return, et cetera. Bibi is under enormous pressure on the hostages, on the hostages, and so he’s prepared to do about anything to get the hostages back.

      And denying their genocide:

      More broadly, from the intelligence in the evidence you’ve seen, either currently or in the last months, have Israeli forces committed war crimes in Gaza?

      Biden: The answer is it’s uncertain and has been investigated by the Israelis themselves. The ICC is something that we don’t, we don’t recognize. But one thing is certain, the people in Gaza, the Palestinians have suffered greatly, for lack of food, water, medicine, etc. And a lot of innocent people have been killed. But it is—and a lot of it has to do not just with Israelis, but what Hamas is doing in Israel as we speak. Hamas is intimidating that population. I went over right after that attack on the Israelis. What they did was—exceeded anything I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot. Tying mothers and daughters together with rope and pouring kerosene on it and burning them to death. That kind of thing, attempting to intimidate. And it is dastardly.

      Important note: Biden just keep repeating things that he claimed ms Hamas did, but there’s no evidence besides Israel saying “trust me bro” yet he constantly excuses Israel’s human rights abuses.

      Don’t just read the small sound bites and fill in the gaps with what you hope it meant.

      That’s what trumpets do.

      • WamGams@lemmy.caEnglish
        37·
        6 months ago

        What is taken out of context when he says that people have every reason to believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war, and then goes on yo say Netanyahu is unhelpful and that he no longer cares whether Netanyahu can change his mind?

        He is clearly telling the Likkud to call an election.

        Or are you taking offense at the idea that Hamas is responsible for this war? They are.

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          65·
          6 months ago

          What is taken out of context when he says that people have every reason to believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war, and then goes on yo say Netanyahu is unhelpful and that he no longer cares whether Netanyahu can change his mind?

          The full context is the link, but your summary of even just the quoted parts is way off…

          And I’m not sure where any of the rest of what you’re saying is coming from either.

          I don’t think you trying to clarify is going to help though.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      6 months ago

      I think a lot of people don’t understand the implications of saying it’s genocide out loud.

      Since 1988 (when the US officially joined the Convention on Genocide), if the US officially says genocide is occurring, it’s supposed to directly intervene. Several states are immune from the convention, including the US, but not Israel.

      It puts the US in a delicate position. Cutting off all support to such a major ally basically requires saying they’re committing genocide, which commits us to war.

      There’s a lot of people that are opposed to what’s happening in Gaza, but don’t want to get in a shooting war with Israel over it.

      • WamGams@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        6 months ago

        Okay, but the US isn’t bound by the ICC, and the ICC went with articles 7 and 8 against Netanyahu, not article 6.