White House fears Netanyahu visit – Politico

US officials are worried that the Israeli leader could stage a “politically dicey spectacle” just months ahead of the election

The White House is reportedly becoming increasingly concerned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use his upcoming speech in the US Congress to publicly criticize President Joe Biden and his administration’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza. 

Netanyahu is set to address a joint session of Congress next month, and “no one knows what he’s going to say,” an unnamed US official told Politico on Saturday. 

Earlier this week, the Israeli leader posted a video accusing Washington of “withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel” for several months, calling it “inconceivable.” Netanyahu defended his public criticism as “absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversation that did not solve the problem,” in an interview published on Friday.

The latest criticism “was not helpful at all,” and Netanyahu “could make it far worse up there in front of Congress,” another senior official reportedly said. Politico added that the speech could create a “diplomatically complicated and politically dicey spectacle for a president running for reelection.”

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Biden has yet to officially invite Netanyahu to the White House during his visit, but officials who spoke with Politico noted that a face-to-face meeting is likely to take place, since refusing would be a major slap in the face.

The White House is concerned that Netanyahu’s rhetoric is deepening the rift between the two allies, according to Axios. While US officials have publicly stated that they “do not know what [Netanyahu] is talking about,” privately, Biden’s team is reportedly “angry and shocked” at the prime minister’s “ingratitude,” with some officials describing him as “unhinged.”

The US paused the delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel in early May amid calls for it to scale back its assault on the densely-populated city of Rafah in southern Gaza. However, despite Biden’s public warnings he would halt arms shipments, the US reportedly kept the majority of other weapons and ammunition flowing. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US proceeded with a transfer of $1 billion worth of arms for Israel in May, the same month it stopped the delivery of bombs.

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Israel declared war on Hamas after militants killed around 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages in a surprise attack on October 7. More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in the months of fighting that followed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. 

Last week, CBS News reported that Washington was growing “increasingly concerned” over the possibility of the Israel-Hamas war spiraling into a larger Middle East conflict involving Hezbollah and potentially American troops.