ARAB AND WORLD
Sun 14 Jan 2024 5:36 pm - Jerusalem Time
Axios: The Biden administration is frustrated with Netanyahu for rejecting requests related to war on Gaza
The Axios news website, citing American officials, reported on Sunday, January 14, 2023, that President Joe Biden and senior American officials are frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for rejecting requests from Washington related to the war on Gaza.
The American website indicated that there is increasing evidence that Biden is beginning to lose his patience with the Israeli official, stressing that the American administration is concerned that Israel will not adhere to its schedule for moving to less severe operations in Gaza.
He also added that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's recent visit to Israel exacerbated frustration within the White House and within the ministry.
“Israel’s plan is a dream that cannot be achieved.”
The website confirmed that Blinken made it clear to Netanyahu and the War Cabinet that Israel’s plan for the next day is a dream that cannot be achieved.
The website revealed that Biden had not spoken with Netanyahu for 20 days, after a tense last call between them, as the US President then ended the call in a rude manner, and in the same call the Israeli Prime Minister had rejected Biden’s request that Israel release the Palestinian tax revenues it is withholding.
Despite the White House’s attempt to reduce the extent of these tensions between the two leaders, an American official confirmed that “there is tremendous frustration with the Biden administration.”
“Next day” plans
According to the site, Biden and his advisors feel that Israel is not doing enough to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and they are also frustrated by Netanyahu’s unwillingness to seriously discuss plans for the “next day” of the war, and his rejection of the American plan to reform the Palestinian Authority so that it has a role in Gaza strip.
US officials are increasingly concerned that Israel will not meet its timetable for moving to low-intensity operations in Gaza by the end of January.
According to American officials who spoke to the site, the visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Israel last week exacerbated frustration within the White House and State Department with Netanyahu.
Blinken, who visited several Arab countries before heading to Israel, had told Israeli officials that “the Arab countries will not save them” in rebuilding and managing Gaza if Israel does not allow the Palestinian Authority to manage the Strip.
Sources familiar with the US Secretary of State’s talks with Israel revealed that “it has become clear to Blinken that Netanyahu’s refusal to release Palestinian tax revenues hinders American efforts to push for reforms in the Palestinian Authority.”
The sources said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informed Blinken that he was ready to form a new government, but stressed that it would not be able to work without money, and that tax revenues constitute a large part of the budget.
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Axios: The Biden administration is frustrated with Netanyahu for rejecting requests related to war on Gaza