Biden Administration consulted Israel expert on how to ‘force the Netanyahu coalition to collapse’ as president accuses the prime minster of ‘hurting Israel more than helping’ and insists Rafah invasion is ‘red line’ that must not be crossed
- President Biden sharpened rhetoric on Israel’s Gaza action in recent weeks
- Experts say he’s angry with Netanyahu and claimed he asked how to remove him
- US Government starting to imply it supports Israel, but not necessarily its leader
DAILYMAIL.COM
An Israel expert claims the Biden administration asked them how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be toppled from power.
President Joe Biden has in recent weeks sharpened his rhetoric on the Israeli response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
His administration has grown increasingly unhappy with the mounting civilian death toll, now at more than 30,000, in Gaza from bombings and ground operations.
Biden has repeatedly criticized Israel’s heavy-handed approach, calling it ‘over the top’ and urging a ceasefire to help starving civilians.
Then after the State of the Union, he was caught on a hot mic telling Democratic colleagues he planned to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting with Netanyahu.
Biden has known Netanyahu for 50 years and is a staunch ally of Israel, but the insider implied he could be at least discussing to option of removing him.
‘I have been asked by a serious administration figure what it is that will force the Netanyahu coalition to collapse,’ the Israel expert told New York Magazine.
‘They were interested in the mechanics, what can we demand which will collapse his coalition.’
Unlike the American political system, where the Republican and Democratic Parties dominate, Israel has numerous small parties that must team up to govern.
If enough of Netanyahu’s coalition partners pulled out, his Lukid Party would not have enough support for him to remain prime minister.
Former Israeli ambassador to the US Itamar Rabinovich told NY Mag the White House has been unhappy with Netanyahu for years.
‘Now in my view they’re even angrier and they are sharpening the tone. Biden is not coming at him personally, but off-the-record and in closed meetings, the sentiment is clear,’ he said.
Rabinovich said they disagreed on ‘very significant issues’ like what happened to Gaza after the war, the role of the Palestinian Authority, and resuming negotiations about the Palestine peace process.
Biden confirmed in an interview with MSNBC on Saturday night that the hot mic moment meant he wanted a ‘very serious meeting’, saying, ‘I’ve known Bibi for 50 years and he knew what I meant by it’.
Then he said Netanyahu’s approach was hurting Israel, implying his continued leadership may not be in the best interests of the Jewish state.
‘[Netanyahu] has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas,’ he said.
‘But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.
‘He’s hurting, in my view, he’s hurting Israel more than helping Israel by making the rest of the world… it’s contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think it’s a big mistake.’
The president was asked if there was a ‘red line’ for his support of Israel, such as the invasion of the city of Rafah – the last place Gazan civilians have to shelter.
‘It is a red line, but I’m never going to leave Israel,’ he said, refusing to cut off military sales to Israel.
‘But there’s red lines that if it crosses and into – it cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead. There’s a consequence of going after – there’s other ways to deal, to get to, to deal with the – with the trauma that caused by Hamas.’
