The Biden-Harris administration has privately warned of “very low” trust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime following several Israeli attacks that the United States was not warned about, Axios reported Tuesday.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly told Israeli officials that the United States expects “clarity and transparency” about Israel's plans, specifically regarding any retaliation against Iran for the missile attack. last week.
“Our trust in the Israelis is very low right now and for good reason,” a US official told the outlet.
The report comes after weeks in which the Biden-Harris administration was increasingly willing to criticize Netanyahu's regime. However, they have repeatedly stated that they support Israel's right to defend itself.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024. (OHAD ZWIGENBERG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
vice president Kamala Harris wouldn't say in an interview this week whether he thought the administration had influence over Netanyahu.
CBS's Bill Whitaker asked Harris why Netanyahu seemed to be “charting his own course,” despite the billions of dollars in military aid the United States has provided to Israel. “Does the United States have no influence over Prime Minister Netanyahu?” asked.
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“The aid that we have given to Israel allowed it to defend itself against 200 ballistic missiles that were only intended to attack Israelis and the people of Israel. And when we think about the threat that Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran present, I think “It is, Without a doubt, it is our imperative to do what we can to allow Israel to defend itself against those types of attacks,” Harris responded.
The Biden-Harris administration is increasingly willing to criticize Netanyahu.
“Now the work we do diplomatically with Israel's leaders is an ongoing quest to make clear our principles, which include the need for humanitarian aid, the need for this war to end, the need to reach an agreement that frees the hostages and create a ceasefire, and we are not going to stop in terms of putting that pressure on Israel and in the region, including Arab leaders,” Harris responded.
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Harris later declined to say whether the United States has a “close ally” in Netanyahu. Instead, he stated that the American people and the Israeli people share an “important alliance.”
The Biden-Harris administration has pressured Netanyahu to move forward with a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)
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Despite US efforts to push for a ceasefire, tensions in the region continue to rise. A year after the October 7 massacre, Israel is now embroiled in a multi-front conflict with Hamas to the south and Hezbollah to the north.
