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President Biden spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking the first call they’ve had in more than a month amid increased tensions over Israel’s handling of its war against Hamas.
During the call, Mr. Biden voiced “deep concerns” over Israel’s potential military operation in Rafah, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. Rafah is the city on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt where more than 1 million Palestinian civilians are sheltering. Israel has vowed to launch an offensive against entrenched Hamas militants.
Mr. Netanyahu, whose disputes with Mr. Biden and leading Democrats have been on stark display in recent weeks, also agreed to send senior leaders to Washington in the coming days to discuss the Rafah operation, which the administration has opposed, saying it would lead to “anarchy.” Mr. Sullivan said Israel will hold off on the military operation until the meetings conclude.
“A military plan cannot succeed without an integrated humanitarian plan and political plan. And the president has repeatedly made the point that continuing military operations need to be connected to a clear strategic endgame,” Mr. Sullivan said.
The Israel team of senior officials will arrive in the coming days to “hear U.S. concerns” and “lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah without a major ground invasion,” Mr. Sullivan said.
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He also rejected Israel’s assertion that the Rafah operation is necessary in order to wipe out Hamas, which started the current round of fighting with a devastating sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people. The U.S. is also helping mediate Israeli-Hamas talks that could lead to a lengthy cease-fire and free dozens of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.
“The president has rejected and did again today the straw man that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about Hamas,” he said. “That is just nonsense.
“Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else. But a major ground operation there would be a mistake,” he said.
In a statement after the call, Mr. Netanyahu said he told Mr. Biden that Israel would achieve its goal while also ensuring Gaza will receive humanitarian aid.
“We talked about the latest developments in the war, including Israel’s commitment to achieving all the goals of the war: the elimination of Hamas, the release of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel – while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve these goals,” said a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mr. Biden last spoke with Mr. Netanyahu on Feb. 15. Monday’s conversation came just days after Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said it was time for Israel to replace Mr. Netanyahu and hold new elections. Mr. Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish American official to call for ousting the Israeli prime minister.
“He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows,” he said on the Senate floor. “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.”
The president refused to condemn Mr. Schumer’s remarks, noting that the Senate leader was expressing the frustration of many Americans and in particular progressives sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. However, Mr. Biden did not endorse the calls for new elections in Israel.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, also praised Mr. Schumer’s scathing denunciation of the Israeli prime minister, calling it a “very courageous speech” from a lawmaker long known as a supporter of Israel.
Mr. Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and influential voice in the part on military matters, told members of the Defense Writers Group Monday that the speech rightly identified Mr. Netanyahu as one of the key obstacles to peace in the region.
A furious Mr. Netanyahu slammed Mr. Schumer’s address as “totally inappropriate” and many U.S. supporters of Israel have attacked the speech as well. But Mr. Reed said the address was badly needed.
“Few times in my experience in the Senate has someone stood up and really, based on principle, called out the individuals that needed to be identified,” Mr. Reed said.
Mr. Biden’s relationship with the conservative Israeli leader has frayed in the months since the Hamas attack. The U.S. has clashed with the Netanyahu government over the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, over access for international aid to trapped Palestinians, and over U.S. support for an eventual Palestinian state that Mr. Netanyahu’s government rejects.
Domestically, Mr. Biden also faces increased election-year pressure from young progressives who have turned sharply against the conservative Israeli leader. Young progressives and several top Democrats blame Mr. Netanyahu for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Mr. Biden has sought to walk a tightrope, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while calling for increased aid to Gaza and urging Mr. Netanyahu to take greater care to spare Palestinian civilians.
Earlier this month Mr. Biden said in an MSNBC interview that an Israeli assault on Rafah would be a “red line” for him, but insisted that he wouldn’t abandon Israel over it.
“There’s no red line where I would cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them,” Mr. Biden said. “But there’s red lines where if he crosses them … he cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead,” he added, referring to Mr. Netanyahu.
The call is the 20th between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu since Oct. 7. It also marks the longest period between calls, 32 days. Previously, the longest the two had gone without speaking was 26 days, between Dec. 23 and Jan. 19.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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