In a telephone conversation with Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden threatened to make the support for Israel's attack on Gaza conditional on the country taking specific steps to protect aid workers and civilians, and for the first time sought to use aid America is to influence Israel's military behavior.
Publish dateSaturday 6 April 2024 - 10:44
Story Code : 288372
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Biden's warning in his telephone conversation with Netanyahu yesterday; Following Israel's deadly attack on World Central Kitchen donors, there have been renewed calls for conditionality on US aid to Israel. The US president, a supporter of Israel, has resisted pressure to freeze aid or freeze arms shipments to the country.
Reuters writes that it is the first time Biden has threatened to condition US aid to Israel, a development that could change the dynamics of the nearly six-month-old war.
The White House said about the phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, "Biden made clear the need to announce and implement a series of specific, measurable steps to address the civilian casualties, humanitarian suffering and safety of aid workers from Israel."
The White House announced in its statement: The President "clearly stated that the US policy towards Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate response to these actions".
Washington is Israel's largest arms supplier, and the Biden administration has largely provided it with a diplomatic shield at the United Nations.
At a briefing after the call, White House spokesman John Kirby declined to elaborate on any specific changes the United States would make to its policy toward Israel and Gaza. He said that Washington hopes to see the announcement of Israel's actions "in the coming hours and days".
Biden is under increasing pressure from his political base to change his policy towards Israel.
"I think that's something that Washington needs to explain," Netanyahu's spokesman Tal Heinrich told Fox News when asked about possible changes in US policy.
Shocked by the killing of seven international aid workers, Israel announced on Thursday that it would adjust its tactics in the Gaza war and the findings of an investigation would soon be made public.
The White House also announced that in a phone call with Netanyahu, Biden stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians. Blinken also told reporters in Brussels: "If we don't see the changes we need to see, there will be changes in our policy."
Biden strongly supported Israel in the early days of the war. But as the death toll in Gaza increased and the war spread and new fronts emerged in Lebanon and Yemen, his administration pressed Israel for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid.
Biden also faces deep anger from Democrats over his handling of the Gaza war, an outcry that could erode support for him in November's run against former Republican President Donald Trump.
Reuters writes that it is the first time Biden has threatened to condition US aid to Israel, a development that could change the dynamics of the nearly six-month-old war.
The White House said about the phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, "Biden made clear the need to announce and implement a series of specific, measurable steps to address the civilian casualties, humanitarian suffering and safety of aid workers from Israel."
The White House announced in its statement: The President "clearly stated that the US policy towards Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate response to these actions".
Washington is Israel's largest arms supplier, and the Biden administration has largely provided it with a diplomatic shield at the United Nations.
At a briefing after the call, White House spokesman John Kirby declined to elaborate on any specific changes the United States would make to its policy toward Israel and Gaza. He said that Washington hopes to see the announcement of Israel's actions "in the coming hours and days".
Biden is under increasing pressure from his political base to change his policy towards Israel.
"I think that's something that Washington needs to explain," Netanyahu's spokesman Tal Heinrich told Fox News when asked about possible changes in US policy.
Shocked by the killing of seven international aid workers, Israel announced on Thursday that it would adjust its tactics in the Gaza war and the findings of an investigation would soon be made public.
The White House also announced that in a phone call with Netanyahu, Biden stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians. Blinken also told reporters in Brussels: "If we don't see the changes we need to see, there will be changes in our policy."
Biden strongly supported Israel in the early days of the war. But as the death toll in Gaza increased and the war spread and new fronts emerged in Lebanon and Yemen, his administration pressed Israel for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid.
Biden also faces deep anger from Democrats over his handling of the Gaza war, an outcry that could erode support for him in November's run against former Republican President Donald Trump.
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