What will Biden do now?
The decision made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a scheduled delegation meeting in Washington has left the White House perplexed. This move follows the United States’ abstention from a U.N. Security Council vote urging a cease-fire in Gaza.
John Kirby, the national security communications adviser, expressed the administration’s confusion, stating, “We find this decision rather puzzling,” when questioned about President Biden’s response.
When pressed for Biden’s personal reaction, Kirby clarified that he had not directly communicated with the president on this matter. Furthermore, he disclosed that there had been no direct conversation between Biden and Netanyahu on Monday.
Netanyahu’s action came in response to the U.S. decision not to veto the Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office issued a statement labeling the U.S. abstention as “a clear deviation from the consistent stance of the United States,” as reported by Israeli news outlets.
Kirby reiterated key points, emphasizing that the resolution was nonbinding and had no practical impact on Israel’s ability to address Hamas. He underscored that the U.S. policy remained unchanged and aligned with previous statements. He emphasized, “We have not altered our policy, and it remains within our discretion to determine our course of action.”
Kirby also noted that the Israeli Prime Minister’s office appeared to be creating a perception of discord where none existed, asserting that there was no need for such misinterpretation.
The canceled delegation meeting was anticipated to take place this week, coinciding with Israeli military threats to enter Rafah, a refugee camp hosting over a million Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict.
Earlier in the day, Kirby expressed disappointment regarding Israel’s decision to call off the delegation meeting. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to Washington remains on schedule, with plans for him to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin still intact.
