Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Convention of Presidents of Main American Jewish Organizations, amid the continued battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Jerusalem, February 18, 2024.
Ronen Zvulun | Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday mentioned he is not going to ship a delegation as deliberate to Washington after the USA shunned vetoing a U.N. Safety Council proposal calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu, in line with an announcement from his workplace, mentioned that Washington’s failure to dam the proposal was a “clear retreat” from its earlier place, and would harm battle efforts in opposition to Hamas, in addition to efforts to launch over 130 hostages in Gaza captivity.
“In gentle of the change within the American place, Prime Minister Netanyahu determined the delegation wouldn’t depart,” his workplace mentioned.
The U.N. Safety Council voted to demand a direct ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the fast and unconditional launch of all hostages. The USA abstained from the vote.
The White Home denied that the U.S. abstention mirrored a change in American coverage.
The high-level delegation was as a result of journey to Washington to debate a deliberate Israeli army operation within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1,000,000 Palestinians are taking shelter.
White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby fielded queries about Israel’s resolution to drag out of the assembly this week simply as Netanyahu was asserting it.
Kirby mentioned the choice was unlucky however that the USA would carry up its considerations about Israel’s insurance policies as a part of ongoing discussions between the 2 governments.
“It is disappointing. We’re very dissatisfied that they will not be coming to Washington DC to permit us to have a fulsome dialog with them about viable alternate options to them getting in on the bottom in Rafah.”
“Nothing has modified about our view {that a} main floor offensive in Rafah can be a serious mistake,” Kirby mentioned.
He mentioned discussions between visiting Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others would cowl the identical factors that the U.S. crew had deliberate to boost with the delegation.
In Israel, parliamentary opposition chief Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of attempting to divert consideration away from a rift in his coalition over a army conscription invoice on the expense of ties with the USA.
“It is stunning irresponsibility from a major minister who has misplaced it,” Lapid wrote on social media platform X.