NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden said Saturday that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza.
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The U.S. leader expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, but said of Netanyahu that “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.” Biden has for months warned that Israel risks losing international support over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, and the latest remarks in an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart pointed to the increasingly strained relationship between the two leaders.
Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping” says President Biden in an MSNBC Interview. He added a dramatic twist, expressing readiness to address the Knesset directly.
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Biden said of the death toll in Gaza, “it’s contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think it’s a big mistake.”
Biden said a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1.3 million Palestinians are sheltering, is “a red line” for him, but said he would not cut off weapons like the Iron Dome missile interceptors which protect the Israeli civilian populace from rocket attacks in the region.
“It is a red line,” he said, when asked about Rafah, “but I’m never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there’s no red line I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them.”
Biden said he was willing to make his case directly to the Israeli Knesset, its parliament, including by making another trip to the country. He traveled to Israel weeks after the Oct. 7. attack. He declined to elaborate on how or whether such a trip might materialize.
The U.S. leader had hoped to secure a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan begins next week, though that appears increasingly unlikely as Hamas has balked at a deal pushed by the U.S. and its allies that would have seen fighting pause for about six weeks, the release of additional hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Israel remains committed to continuing its invasion and annihilation of Hamas, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took about 250 hostages on Oct. 7. The terrorist group freed dozens of hostages during a November truce, but it refuses to release more without guarantees of a complete end of hostilities.
Meanwhile, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry, with the majority being women and children, and hundreds of thousands going hungry.
Biden noted CIA Director Bill Burns is in the region currently trying to resurrect the deal.
Biden’s comments came after he was captured on a hot mic following Thursday night’s State of the Union address telling Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. that he and the Israeli leader will need to have a “come to Jesus meeting.”
In the exchange, Bennet congratulated Biden on his speech and urged the president to keep pressing Netanyahu on growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were also part of the brief conversation.
Biden then responds using Netanyahu’s nickname, saying, “I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting.”
An aide to the president standing nearby then speaks quietly into the president’s ear, appearing to alert Biden that microphones remained on as he worked the room.
“I’m on a hot mic here,” Biden says after being alerted. “Good. That’s good.”
Democrats always fold and stab israel in the back, especially when so many of their base are Hamas supporting Jew haters, he can’t abandon Israel or that will make the pro Israel side abandon him, but he can do all he can to undermine Israel and fund the terrorists amd paly both sides to get those votes, the Jino democrats will still vote for him unless he actually stops sending weapons and votes against Israel in the UNSC, while the hamas supporters will vote for him if he condemns Israel enough especially if he does what he is working towards which is the unilateral recognition of a pali state with East Jerusalem as its capital right before the election, this is why he is blaming Bibi so he can say it was his fault he did it. Remember when biden slaughtered an innocent family of 10 including 7 children to pretend he was doing something about the bombing that killed 13 servicemembers when he bugged out of Afghanistan, and there were no consequences for anyone.
Biden is a total jerk. he needs to be removed from office, except VP Harris aint no saint either.
hope Trump wins.HaShem runs the world!
An other try by Obama/Biden to undermine Israel’s democracy, and remove Natanhahu , I just hope that the left in Israel doesn’t help them
Attention, Mr. President:
You do realize that your attacks on Netanyahu and Israel has emboldened Sinwar at the bargaining table. He just now walked away from negotiations because YOU are pulling back from your initial support for Israel (Sinwar said that himself).
So YOU, Mr. Biden, are to blame for no temporary cease-fire, YOU are to blame that at least 40 hostages (perhaps some of them Americans) are not being released, and YOU are now to blame if more “innocent” Gazans are killed.
I hope you’re happy with your Muslim voters in Michigan.
What really Biden wants to say is what’s wrong with you Jews turn the other cheek except and bow down in front of our idols..
The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu screams and screams, however he is too weak to send Gantz, the Traitor, out of the War cabinet and waits for the Ramadan to start and finish in order to see how many Israelis are going to be murdered. Meanwhile Hamas is strengthening itself and sent missiles against Israeli towns again. Moreover he waits for entering the last city in southeren Gaza and causes Israel to loose the war and thereby strengthens Hamas and causes the deaths of our soldiers. Meanwhile his son is enjoying his long vacation in Florida , USA We need a real war cabinet and destroy our enemies
And yet there will be Jews (orthodox) that will still tell us he’s the best man for us and Isreal S well as a well n is Jewish self. Serve organization that receives millions from the government
To Tsvi Kukenheim : I am not into Israel s politics [ so I do not really know anything about Ganz , nor about Netanyahu s son ] , however I absolutely agree with you : that Israel was demonstrating an extreme WEAKNESS over this war , which brought about their LOSS of the war , the Israelies were UNABLE to use a decisive mighty fight in order to retrieve the hostages , I am not sure who is the suitable person to be their potus .
For the safety of Jews in Israel and worldwide Jewry the war must stop immediately. Hamas is demolished and by now the war is all about revenge and revenge and off course about loud mouth Netanyahu’s politics.Arab countries as much as they hate Hamas it is no comparison the hate they have toward Jews.Only blind brainwashed Zionists are pro war even though Jewish soldiers are killed daily Rachmana Litzlon.
Biden never was too sharp, but now his effective IQ is about 85. Whereas Netanyahu still maintains an IQ of 150+. So far Netanyahu has not faltered in his near impossible balancing act. Whether the the humanitarian aid pier the Americans are building works or not is totally immaterial; by allowing it, Netanyahu is receiving the go-ahead from the U.S. to finish this war in Gaza. I believe Netanyahu could have pursued the war much quicker but did not for two reasons. 1. Although bad for the hostages, by proceeding more cautiously, far fewer Israeli soldiers have been sacrificed. 2. Time is moving along closer to when Trump will be back in power. With Trump, Israel will have no problem with the “post war” decision on what to do with Gaza… Israel will settle most of it.
To shmendrik : Yes , I am now getting the point , you are right ,
BTW. you mentioned the importance of R.L. the fallen Yidden and soldiers : to be DAVEN and say : H.Y.D. B.D.H. it only shows your RACHMUNES over the Yidden in E. YISRUL , which makes you the finest .
The simple fact is that Hamas has so far gotten everything it wanted from this war. Israel’s conduct in Gaza is turning it friends against it. Israel was at the brink of a general settlement with the Arab world. By its reflexive spasm Israel is about to throw that away. Just like Hamas wanted.