Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a meeting of the presidents of major American Jewish organizations in Jerusalem on February 18, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues.
Ronan Zwillen | Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would not send a planned delegation to Washington after the United States did not veto a UN Security Council proposal calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A statement from Netanyahu’s office said Washington’s failure to block the proposal was a “clear retreat” from its previous position and would harm the war effort against Hamas and efforts to free more than 130 hostages in Gaza.
“In light of the change in the U.S. position, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that the delegation will not leave,” his office said.
The United Nations Security Council voted to demand an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The United States abstained from the vote.
The White House denied that the U.S. abstention reflected a change in U.S. policy.
The high-level delegation was due to travel to Washington to discuss planned Israeli military action in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are seeking refuge.
As Netanyahu announced the decision, White House national security spokesman John Kirby responded to a query about Israel’s decision to withdraw from this week’s meeting.
Kirby said the decision was unfortunate but that the United States would raise concerns about Israel’s policies in ongoing discussions between the two governments.
“This is disappointing. We are extremely disappointed that they will not come to Washington, D.C., to allow us to have a full dialogue with them about viable alternatives to their field trip to Rafah.”
“Our view has not changed that launching a major ground attack against Rafa would be a major mistake,” Kirby said.
He said discussions between visiting Israeli Defense Minister Yov Gallant and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others will cover the same points the U.S. team plans to make to the delegation.
In Israel, Knesset opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of trying to distract from intra-coalition divisions over the conscription bill at the expense of relations with the United States.
“The irresponsibility of a prime minister who has lost his responsibility is shocking,” Lapid wrote on social media platform X.
About The Author
