Israelis are starting to lose patience with the Biden administration’s approach the the war in Gaza. While American support has been strong, and certainly stronger than that from any other ally, the White House is edging toward its typical fence-sitting position.
That became clear to many on Thursday after an unconfirmed readout of the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was leaked.
While Blinken signaled that Washington still backs Israel in achieving its primary war goal of eliminating the Hamas threat, the US doesn’t believe Israel can achieve that outcome without crossing what the White House considers to be red lines.
Israeli leaders fired back that the entire nation is united behind fulfilling this mission at all costs, suggesting that the red lines have been blurred after what the Palestinians did on October 7.
According to the readout, the conversation went like this:
Blinken: “There are two million Palestinians [in southern Gaza]. You need to evacuate fewer people from their homes, be more precise in your attacks, not damage UN facilities, and make sure there are enough safe areas. And if not, then don’t attack where there is a civilian population. What will be your method of operation?”
Halevi: “The IDF is operating on the basis of proportionality, judgment and international law. There were times when we attacked based on these principles, and there were times when we decided not to attack because we were waiting for a better opportunity.”
Gallant: “All of Israeli society is united around the goal of dismantling Hamas—even if it takes months.”
Blinken: “I don’t think you will have the credit for [a months-long war].”
Blinken then pressed Israel to clarify what it intends for Gaza the day after the war, noting that Israel didn’t want the Palestinian Authority to take over, but didn’t offer another idea.
Netanyahu: “As long as I sit in this chair, the Palestinian Authority that supports terrorism, teaches terrorism and finances it will not control Gaza the day after Hamas.”
In a Thursday afternoon press conference, Blinken appeared to confirm part of the War Cabinet discussion, saying: “In my meetings today with the prime minister and senior Israeli officials, I made clear that before Israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians.
“That means taking more effective steps to protect the lives of civilians, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza where they can be safe and out of the line of fire,” he said.
However, Blinken did not appear to confirm that the US had placed a time limit on its support for Israeli operations.
To a reporter’s question whether a deadline had been set for Israel’s war effort, Blinken said: “The US will continue to support Israel’s efforts to do everything possible to ensure that Hamas cannot repeat the horrors of Oct. 7.
“And that means, among other things, that Hamas cannot remain responsible for governance in Gaza and it cannot retain the capacity to repeat those attacks.”
In an official Israeli statement released after a meeting between Gallant and Blinken, Gallant said: “We are going to fight Hamas until we prevail—no matter how long it takes. This is a just war against Hamas—the ISIS of Gaza, and it’s a war to bring the hostages back home—as long as it takes.”
With reporting by JNS.
