Israeli Prime Minister Rebukes Cabinet Minister’s Unauthorized Trip to Washington Amidst Growing Cracks in Leadership
In a surprising turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rebuked a top Cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, for his unauthorized trip to Washington. The trip comes at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Israel are rising over the handling of the conflict with Hamas and the future plans for Gaza.
Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahu’s wartime Cabinet following Hamas’ attack on October 7th, is scheduled to meet with top U.S. officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The purpose of his visit is to strengthen ties with the U.S., garner support for Israel’s war efforts, and push for the release of Israeli hostages.
However, Netanyahu’s far-right Likud party claims that Gantz’s trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. An anonymous official from Likud stated that Netanyahu had a “tough talk” with Gantz, emphasizing that there is only one prime minister in the country.
The timing of Gantz’s visit is crucial as talks are underway in Egypt to broker a cease-fire before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel did not send a delegation to the talks, citing two unanswered questions from Hamas regarding the hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli government is waiting to learn which hostages are still alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has begun airdrops of aid into Gaza after a deadly incident where Palestinians were killed while rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy. These airdrops aim to bypass the logistical issues and Israeli restrictions that have hindered aid delivery to Gaza. However, aid officials argue that airdrops are far less effective than truck deliveries.
The growing cracks within Israel’s leadership are becoming more evident, with Netanyahu’s ultranationalist Cabinet dominating decision-making. Gantz’s more moderate party serves as a counterweight at times. Netanyahu’s popularity has also suffered since the war began, as many Israelis hold him responsible for failing to prevent the cross-border raid by Hamas. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians, with around two-thirds being women and children. Additionally, the majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.
The U.S. envisions progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state, with a revamped Palestinian leadership governing Gaza. However, Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government oppose this vision. Gantz’s party has also questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.
As tensions continue to rise, there is a growing number of Israelis expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to call for early elections, signaling a potential shift in public sentiment. If Gantz were to quit the government, it could lead to even broader protests against the current administration.
In the midst of these political rifts, concerns about the wider regional conflict persist. White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein is set to visit Lebanon to meet with officials in an effort to prevent tensions along the border from escalating.
The situation remains tense and uncertain as Israel and Hamas negotiate a possible cease-fire and hostage release deal. The international community is closely watching these developments, hoping for an end to the suffering in Gaza and a path towards lasting peace in the region.
