Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be prolonging the war in Palestine for his political benefit, said US President Joe Biden in an interview given to Time magazine. His comments come amid Israel’s refusal of an internationally brokered ceasefire with Hamas. However, Biden continued his unswayed commitment to Israel’s cause, providing weapons and funds, despite drawing criticism.
Israel, meanwhile, responding to Biden’s remark, accused Biden of damaging the diplomatic norms, The Guardian reported.
Biden's comments come at a time when Netanyahu's popularity has plummeted following the October 7 Hamas attack that exposed significant flaws in Israeli security. Political analysts widely agree that if elections were held now, Netanyahu would likely lose and face corruption charges in court.
However, the elections have been postponed until the conclusion of the war or at least until major military operations are deemed complete.
During the interview, Biden was cautious about directly accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict for political gain but acknowledged that such a conclusion could be drawn. He discussed Netanyahu's pre-war political struggles and the challenges facing his administration.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby later reinforced Biden's remarks, emphasizing that the president was reflecting criticisms made by many regarding Netanyahu's motives. However, Biden subsequently softened his stance, suggesting that Netanyahu was not playing politics with the war but rather dealing with a serious problem.
In response to Biden's comments, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer criticized the remarks as outside the bounds of diplomatic norms.
The interview also covered serious allegations against Israel, including those under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), concerning potential war crimes in Gaza.
Biden provided a nuanced response, acknowledging the severe suffering of Palestinians due to lack of essential resources and the loss of innocent lives, while also holding Hamas accountable for the bloodshed.
Biden expressed scepticism about allegations of Israel using starvation as a method of warfare, though he noted that some of Israel's actions were inappropriate. He cautioned Israel against repeating past US mistakes in prolonged conflicts, specifically referencing the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.