Biden Threatens to Condition Israel Aid
During a tense 30-minute call today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Biden threatened to condition future American support for Israel on whether it improves its treatment of civilians in Gaza. Biden called the humanitarian situation in the enclave “unacceptable,” and insisted to Netanyahu that he quickly put in place specific protections.
It was the first time that the president has sought to leverage American aid to influence the conduct of Israel’s war against Hamas, a step some of his closest allies have publicly supported. Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu has grown in recent months. But in public, he has staunchly supported Israel’s right to respond to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.
During the call, Biden urged Netanyahu to negotiate a deal that would result in an “immediate cease-fire” and the release of hostages taken by Hamas. A spokesman said the White House expects Israel to make announcements of specific changes within hours or days.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who dialed into the call, said afterward that Israel needed to do more to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies to Gaza, a challenge made more difficult after Israel’s deadly attack on an aid convoy this week.
“If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there’ll be changes in policy,” Blinken said.
In related news, a key member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet called for early elections.