Joe Biden slammed as White House cancels high-level meeting with Israel following controversial Benjamin Netanyahu video

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House abruptly canceled a high-level meeting with Israel that was scheduled for Thursday, June 20, following a controversial video released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The video, in which Netanyahu claimed the US was withholding military aid from Israel, has sparked a diplomatic row, leading to significant fallout on both sides.

Outrage and confusion in Washington over canceled meeting with Israel

Top advisers to President Joe Biden were taken aback and outraged by Netanyahu’s allegations. In the video, the Israeli Prime Minister stated in English, "It is inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel."

A senior Israeli official told Axios, "The Americans are fuming. Bibi’s video made a lot of damage."

In response, US envoy Amos Hochstein delivered a direct message to Netanyahu, condemning his accusations as incorrect and inappropriate. Soon after, the White House canceled a scheduled meeting on Iran, a move intended to signal disapproval. "This decision makes it clear that there are consequences for pulling such stunts," remarked one US official.

Netanyahu’s video has created a rift between the US and Israel at a critical juncture. The White House publicly expressed bewilderment over Netanyahu’s remarks, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noting, "We genuinely do not know what he is talking about," adding that only one weapons shipment had been paused since the start of the war.

Several Israeli officials were already en route to Washington when the meetings on Iran were canceled. While some US officials indicated that the meeting was canceled to send a message about Netanyahu's video, others claimed it was merely postponed due to scheduling conflicts.

This incident marks the second time a meeting on the Iran strategic dialogue has been canceled at the last minute. In March, Netanyahu canceled a meeting after the US declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution that mentioned a ceasefire in Gaza.

Despite the strained relations, Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24. The upcoming speech is anticipated to be contentious, set against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

This came after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) issued a joint letter to Netanyahu.

It stated, "Last year, Congress was proud to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington to celebrate 75 years of friendship and partnership between our two democracies."

"Less than three months later, the horrific attacks of October 7th shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence. We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability," added the letter. 

The conflict with Hamas has resulted in significant casualties. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and 33 Americans, prompting Netanyahu to declare war on the group.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been engaged in dense urban warfare in Gaza, leading to a high civilian death toll, which the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health reports to be nearly 35,000. However, these figures are often disputed and may be inflated.

 

President Biden and his administration have criticized Netanyahu’s leadership during the war, leading to the withholding of some munitions shipments to Israel, a move that sparked bipartisan backlash within the nation.

Biden has called for Israel to withdraw from the conflict, asserting that Hamas was no longer capable of orchestrating another large-scale attack.

Simultaneously, the IDF has intensified its military operations in Rafah, a southern Gaza stronghold of Hamas. This escalation is part of Israel's broader strategy to dismantle Hamas' infrastructure and neutralize its threat, as per the New York Post.

Internet fumes as White House cancels meeting with Israel

The Biden administration faced quite a backlash following the cancellation of the high-level meeting with Israel.

One wrote, "This Administration hates Israel. That's no secret," and another said, "Why is Biden fuming? He is withholding weapons."

A person alleged, "The White House is supporting Hamas," while someone else stated, "Only the Biden administration would support both sides of a war." 

"The entire world knows Biden is a weak feckless leader. America First Trump2024," expressed an individual. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.