Until now, despite the growing international indignation and rejection of the humanitarian crisis unleashed in Gaza by Israel’s aggressive military response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, and internal criticism in his own country, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, had chosen to transfer In private to Binyamin Netanyahu his warnings or discrepancies. This Tuesday, and in which he represents his most critical message towards the Israeli leader to date in publicBiden has said that “Bibi has a difficult decision to make” and “must change”.
The American leader was speaking at a meeting with Democratic donors in Washington for his re-election campaign for 2024. According to the information that several media outlets have given about that meeting and the ‘pool’ of journalists who follow the president, Biden has continued to defend Netanyahu as a “friend” and has assured that the US will maintain its “unwavering” support to achieve the eradication of Hamas. But he has also recalled that Tel Aviv is the most conservative government in history of Israel andHe doesn’t want anything close to a two-state solution.” and has warned that “they are starting to lose support” for the military campaign and “making it very difficult for the world” to continue supporting that operation.
“I think (Netanyahu) It has to change and this government in Israel is making it very difficult for it to move“Biden said, according to the transcript of his words from the ‘pool’.
Increasingly visible differences
The president’s message comes hours after Netanyahu had acknowledged that he maintained a “disagreement” with Biden on the future of the Gaza Strip once the conflict is over, a future in which the American believes a revitalized Palestinian National Authority, an idea that Netanyahu and his government reject.
It also comes when senior officials in the Biden Administration, and especially Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, have publicly warned in recent days that there is a “divorce” between reality on the groundwith more than 18,000 dead in Gaza, and the Israel’s promises to be doing everything possible to reduce civilian casualties and suffering in the conflict.
Biden’s words are seen as a sign of a possible turn in tone, perhaps forced by circumstances. The US is not alone increasingly alone in the international community by offering unconditional support to Israel despite the humanitarian tragedy unleashed by the aggressive military and siege operation. The American president is also watching erode support in your own party and between parts of public opinion and its potential electorate. And the indignation among many progressive voters, especially youth and minorities, It capsizes the coalition with which he reached the Oval Office in 2020.
Voting at the UN
For now, in any case and in practice, lThe alliance with Israel remains unbreakable. Weapons and ammunition continue to arrive from Washington, including an emergency sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition. And last Friday, in a vote of the United Nations Security Council, Washington used the power of veto to stop alone a resolution that urged a ceasefire. This action has made the general Assemblywhere 193 nations are represented, reactivate this Tuesday a extraordinary session in which it is going to debate and vote on a resolution calling for that immediate cessation of hostilities.
Although the initiative, like all the actions of the Assembly, is not binding nor tools to ensure its implementation (in addition to the fact that Israel usually ignores the resolutions even that they do have those powers), it is anticipated that it will receive a majority support of the international community, as happened in October, when that body approved a resolution urging a humanitarian truce after the Council was blocked four times.
Also this Tuesday, the General Assembly is expected to reject a amendment submitted to the resolution by Washington that tries to include in the text a expresses condemnation of Hamas attacks and hostage taking. A similar amendment put forward by Canada in the October resolution was rejected.
