Israel’s Netanyahu blames Biden for withholding weapons. US officials say that’s not the whole story

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Tuesday that the United States is withholding weapons and suggested this was slowing Israel’s offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where struggle has exacerbated the already terrible humanitarian situation for the Palestinians.

President Joe Biden has delayed delivery certain heavy bombs since May due to concerns about the killing of civilians in Gaza. However, the administration has gone to great lengths to avoid any suggestion that Israeli forces have crossed a red line in deepening the Rafah invasion, which would trigger a more radical ban on arms transfers.

Netanyahu, in a short video, spoke directly to the camera in English as he leveled harsh criticism at Biden over “bottlenecks” in arms transfers.

“It is inconceivable that in recent months the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel,” Netanyahu said, adding: “Give us the tools and we will finish the job much faster.”

Netanyahu also stated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a recent visit to israelHe said he was working around the clock to end the delays.

However, Blinken said Tuesday that the only pause was related to those heavy bombs in May.

“We, as you know, continue to review a shipment that President Biden has talked about regarding 2,000-pound bombs because of our concerns about their use in a densely populated area like Rafah,” Blinken said during a Department of Defense news conference. State. . “That remains under review. But everything else is progressing as it normally would.”

Netanyahu did not elaborate on what weapons were being held and the Israeli military declined to respond to a request for comment. Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, referred questions about the details to the U.S. government.

Responding to Netanyahu’s claim on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “We generally don’t know what he’s talking about. “We just don’t do it.”

He added that the United States is having “constructive discussions” with Israel about the slow shipment of heavy bombs and that it is the only transfer that is delayed.

Two top Democrats in Congress cleared the way this week for a $15 billion F-15 sale to Israel to go ahead, after a delay while a lawmaker sought answers from the Biden administration about current use. of American weapons by Israel in the war in Gaza. .

With Israel’s war against Hamas Now in its ninth month, international criticism is growing over US military and diplomatic support for Israel’s campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza, at enormous cost in civilian lives.

The highest court of the United Nations has concluded that there is a “plausible risk of genocide ”in Gaza, an accusation that Israel strongly denies. Israel blames Hamas for the civilian deaths, saying the militants operate among the population.

Both Netanyahu and Biden are balancing their own domestic political problems with the explosive Middle East situation, and the embattled Israeli leader has become increasingly resistant to Biden’s public charm offensives and private pleas.

Experts say Netanyahu’s message, delivered only in English, is likely aimed at bolstering U.S. arms support and does not appear to indicate shortages on the ground.

“I’m not worried,” said Itamar Yaar, a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council who leads a group of former top security officials. He believes Netanyahu wants to “make it difficult for the Biden administration to delay arms supplies in the future.”

Aviv Bushinsky, a former Netanyahu adviser, suggested that the prime minister’s office is working to set the agenda for Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s meetings in the United States next week, while allowing Netanyahu – instead of Gallant – takes credit for releasing the bomb shipment. The video also prepares a speech by Netanyahu. is ready to deliver to Congress in about a week, he said.

“It’s a very belligerent style of diplomacy, but he’s in a win-win situation,” Bushinsky said. “He has nothing to lose at this moment; this serves him in all dimensions, internally and publicly.”

Netanyahu dissolved his war cabinet on Monday, a move that cements his influence over the war and likely diminishes the chances of a ceasefire any time soon. Critics accuse him of delaying the end of the war because it would mean an investigation into the government’s failures on October 7 and increase the likelihood of new elections when the prime minister’s popularity is low. Netanyahu denies the accusations and says he is committed to destroying Hamas’s military and governance capabilities, no matter how long that takes.

Months of ceasefire talks have failed to find common ground between Hamas and Israeli leaders. Both Israel and Hamas have been reluctant to fully back a U.S.-backed plan that would return the hostages, pave the way for an end to the war and begin rebuilding the decimated territory.

Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 37,100 people, according to the Gaza Office. Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to the Palestinians who facing widespread hunger.

Israel launched the war after Hamas attack on October 7in which militants swept into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 250.

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Callister reported from New York. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.