WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has increased public pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, cautioning that he's “hurting Israel” and talking openly about “come to Jesus” discussions with the leader regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Despite Biden's growing frustration, Israeli officials and Middle East experts believe there are no signs that Biden can immediately force Israel to significantly change its approach to the conflict.
“He has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas,” Biden stated in an MSNBC interview. “But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. He’s hurting…in my view, he’s hurting Israel more than helping Israel.”
Biden on if he has a red line with Netanyahu: "I'm not going to leave Israel … [but] we cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead." pic.twitter.com/q5ahnufjAF
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2024
The president had hoped to achieve a prolonged cease-fire before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is set to begin Monday. Biden administration officials view a temporary truce deal in exchange for dozens of hostages as a crucial step towards eventually ending the conflict permanently.
But with no such deal in sight, Biden admitted last week that he is increasingly concerned about the potential for violence in east Jerusalem. Over the years, clashes have occurred during Ramadan between Palestinians and Israeli security forces around Jerusalem’s Old City, home to major religious sites revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims and the emotional focal point of the Middle East conflict.
This weekend, Biden cautioned Netanyahu that an attack on Rafah—where hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans have gathered—would be a “red line” and that Israel “cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.” At the same time, he emphasized that his commitment to Israel’s defense is sacred.
The president’s frank remarks came after he was overheard on a hot mic following his State of Union address on Thursday telling a Democratic ally that he’s informed Netanyahu they will have a “come to Jesus” talk about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
This month, the U.S. initiated airdrops and announced plans to set up a temporary pier to deliver much-needed aid into Gaza via sea. U.N. officials have cautioned that at least one quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are on the brink of famine. These extraordinary measures to provide aid to Gaza have been implemented as Israel has resisted U.S. calls to allow more aid to enter via land routes.
In a move that angered Netanyahu, Vice President Kamala Harris last week hosted a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet, Benny Gantz, who visited Washington against the prime minister's wishes. U.S. officials stated that Harris, along with other senior advisers to Biden, were straightforward with Gantz regarding their concerns about an anticipated operation in Rafah.
Netanyahu on Sunday responded to Biden’s latest comments.
“Well, I don’t know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant…that I’m pursuing private policies against the majority, the wish of the majority of Israelis, and that this is hurting the interests of Israel, then he’s wrong on both counts,” Netanyahu said in a clip of an interview with Politico, released by the prime minister’s office on Sunday.
Netanyahu against Biden:
“He’s wrong.” pic.twitter.com/qNNVvcY6Qv
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) March 10, 2024
An anonymous U.S. official familiar with the president's thinking said that Biden's increased criticism of the prime minister's handling of the war is meant to signal to Netanyahu that the U.S. president is running out of patience with the rising death toll and lack of aid flow into Gaza.
In other parts of Israel, the response to Biden's public expression of frustration was mixed.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that he was not surprised by Biden's remarks. Lapid accused Netanyahu of catering to his base and having narrow political interests in mind.
Lapid, who briefly served as prime minister in 2022, mentioned that the U.S. has lost faith in Netanyahu and it's not surprising. He also emphasized the loss of faith in him within Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz played down Biden's comments, emphasizing that the U.S. supports Israel's war aims, which is what matters.
Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations, stated that Biden's decision to increase aid to Gaza and warn Israel about an incursion into Rafah undermined support for Israel's objectives in dismantling Hamas's capabilities and releasing the hostages.
Gilboa explained that Biden's recent harsh comments stemmed from frustration with Netanyahu's reluctance to accept the U.S. vision for a post-war Gaza. Biden has called for stakeholders in the Middle East to revitalize efforts for a two-state solution.
Netanyahu has consistently opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state throughout his political career.
Gilboa suggested that Biden's remarks were made with an eye on his reelection and intended to appease progressive Democrats.
Over 100,000 Michigan Democrats cast 'uncommitted' ballots in the state's primary last month, as part of an effort to show Biden that he could lose much-needed support due to frustration with his administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas war.
Eytan Gilboa said that while Netanyahu deserved the criticism, Biden's personal criticism of him aims to improve his standing among progressives.
Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that pointed criticism of the Netanyahu government has limited political value for Biden.
Miller emphasized that words without actions will not bring those voters back, and that the hemorrhaging of support will continue as long as the situation in Gaza remains unchanged.
Gilboa mentioned that even if a different government were in charge of Israel, like a more moderate figure such as Gantz, Biden would still find a leadership determined to enter Rafah and defeat Hamas.
“They wouldn’t do things significantly different,” he said. “Is there anyone with sound judgment here who is willing to leave Hamas in Gaza? That won’t happen.”
Biden administration officials pushed back against the idea that the president has become more outspoken in his criticism of Netanyahu with an eye on his 2024 prospects.
Biden is aware that Israelis across the political spectrum hold strong views like Netanyahu about eliminating Hamas. However, Biden believes that by speaking more forcefully, he can persuade Israelis to take more action to reduce the death toll and relieve the suffering of innocent Palestinians during Israel's operations, according to the U.S. official.
Biden, who last visited Israel soon after Hamas’ launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, said in the MSNBC interview that he was open to visiting Israel again to address the Knesset directly.
Privately, Biden has expressed a desire to his aides to make another trip to Israel to try to bypass Netanyahu and take his message directly to the people. One option considered internally for a presidential trip is if a temporary cease-fire agreement is reached. Biden could use the moment to advocate directly to Israelis for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and begin outlining a path toward a permanent end to the fighting, officials said.
