Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Biden administration of significantly reducing weapons deliveries for Israel’s war effort in Gaza, a claim that has sparked a public dispute and underscores the deepening tensions between the two allies.
Netanyahu informed his Cabinet on Sunday that there has been a “dramatic drop” in US weapons shipments, a claim the Biden administration has denied. He specified that the decrease occurred four months ago, without disclosing the specific types of weapons, stating only that “certain items arrived sporadically but the munitions at large remained behind.”
This public disagreement highlights the growing friction between Israel and Washington regarding the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly concerning the Israeli military’s conduct in the beleaguered territory and the resulting harm to civilian life. In May, President Joe Biden delayed the delivery of certain heavy bombs over these concerns. However, last week, his administration countered Netanyahu’s assertions that other shipments had also been affected.
Netanyahu explained to his Cabinet that he was compelled to release a video in English last week following weeks of unsuccessful attempts to persuade American officials to expedite deliveries. He expressed hope for a swift resolution, stating, “In light of what I have heard over the past day, I hope and believe that this matter will be solved soon,” without providing further details.
The video Netanyahu released last week caused an uproar among critics in Israel and elicited denials and confusion from White House officials. John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, expressed perplexity over Netanyahu’s claims. Similarly, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, “We generally do not know what he’s talking about.”
These remarks followed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s trip to Washington for meetings with senior officials. A statement from Gallant’s office indicated that the discussions would focus on “maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge in the region,” but did not mention the weapons issue.
The war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’s October 7th attack on southern Israel, has placed unprecedented strain on the US-Israel relationship. While the US has firmly supported Israel’s objectives of freeing hostages taken into Gaza and defeating Hamas, it has become increasingly apprehensive about the escalating Palestinian death toll and the humanitarian crisis stemming from the conflict.
Biden has faced pressure from progressive Democrats to adopt a tougher stance against Israel, and he has escalated his warnings to Netanyahu regarding military tactics in the Gaza Strip. However, despite threatening to impose a broader ban on arms transfers in response to an assault on Rafah, the administration has refrained from suggesting that Israel’s expanding incursion into the southern Gaza city has crossed a red line.
During an election year, Biden is also contending with criticism from the right, who argue that he has tempered his support for a crucial Middle East ally. For Netanyahu, the growing divergence with the US presents both political risks and opportunities.
His critics view the public disagreements as the consequence of a leader willing to damage vital alliances and tarnish Israel’s global image for political gain. However, the rift also affords the long-serving leader an opportunity to demonstrate to his base that he is not subservient to the US and that he prioritizes Israel’s interests.
