Pres. Biden had the most forthright, even confrontational phone conversation with Bibi Netanyahu since 10/7. It is his strongest statement criticizing Israel’s war. It was unvarnished and left no room for doubt about US expectation.
In the White House readout, he demanded an immediate ceasefire; protection of humanitarian aid workers; free flow of humanitarian aid; and Israeli agreement to a deal with Hamas for release of hostages.
The latter is very important: it implies that Netanyahu is the party holding up a deal with Hamas. In particular, he does not want Gaza refugees returning to their homes in northern Gaza. Doing so would mean his capitulation not just to Hamas, but abandoning one of the key reasons for invading Gaza: to eliminate any danger of future Hamas attacks on southern Israel.
These are some of the key points in the readout:
Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay…
In other words, cut the shit, get it done, end it. Now. It has only taken Biden six months and 33,000 dead to reach this point–one he could have reached months and tens of thousands of dead, ago. But at least he has reached it. It’s always dangerous to predict anything constructive when it comes to Israeli military conduct…but I believe this is the beginning of the end of the war.
Netanyahu can puff out his chest and proclaim defiantly that Israel will pursue its strategy to the end with or without America. But the truth is that the US does not speak alone. It speaks on behalf of much of Europe and other western democracies. Even if it does not do so explicitly, most of them look to us on such issues.
What may happen if Bibi refuses to see the handwriting on the wall? Biden could suspend military weapons shipments. 70% of Israel’s imported weapons come from the US; and 15% of their cost is funded by the US. You can’t fight a war without ammunition. Secretary of State Blinken implied as much when he said that if Israel’s behavior doesn’t change, then America’s will.
WATCH | Families of Israeli captives in Gaza storm the Knesset and protest inside, and the opposition joins in cheering.#GazaIsStarving #IsraeliButchers pic.twitter.com/bt98Vb0jWj
— Aidarouss Ahmed Hirsi (@aidaroussahmed) April 4, 2024
After the Biden statement, the Israeli hostage families will redouble their protests, demanding a deal for release of their loved ones. This week they stormed the Knesset, screaming at the MKs to make a deal happen. They splashed yellow (the color of the hostage protest movement) paint on the walls of the visitor gallery as they hurled abuse at their elected representatives. Weekly protests against the Netanyahu fascist government have resumed. In one case, police physically assaulted and dragged the wife of one of the hostages on the pavement, as she protested outside the prime minister’s residence. Response of the police and their fascist overlords has always been ugly. But this will take it to a whole new level.
What made Biden change his mind?
1. This week’s primaries produced several hundred thousand more uncommitted votes from those protesting the president’s Gaza policy. In all primary states “uncommitted” has garnered between 10-20% of the vote. Even if most of them return to the fold in November, it will only take a few percentage points to seriously jeopardize Biden’s chance for victory. On top of nearly 1-million such votes in earlier primaries, the message began to sink in: that he cannot afford to bleed support. He cannot assume all those voters will return to the Democratic column.
2. The murder of seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers this week in a devastating drone strike chilled the world. Though 200 such Palestinian workers have been killed, the murder of foreign nationals brings the tragedy home to their respective countries. Not to mention, that the anguish of Jose Andres, founder of WCK and one of the most famous chefs in the world at the death of his colleagues, has moved the world.
3. During a meeting with Muslim-Americans he told the group that his wife told him: “Stop it, stop it, Joe!” Jill Biden is one of his closest advisors. When she speaks he listens. She outweighs all the others who tell him what he wants to hear and tell him he can go on spporting the killing in Gaza.
4. For two entire weeks, the IDF besieged and then overran al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main health facility. It claimed there were hundreds of Hamas fighters sheltering there. Instead, 400 nurses, doctors and patients were slaughtered. The entire hospital was destroyed. Neighborhoods surrounding the hospital were also annihilated. 25,000 people were displaced from their homes. How many fighters did they kill? At first the army claimed 200. But during a media tour, the same spokesperson said forty had been killed. And this figure originates from a source known as a serial liar. So we can safely assume the number of Hamas personnel in the hospital was a handful or two at most. Destroying a hospital and civilians shelter inside it, all for a few armed men?
The world was disgusted. Outraged. But of course, the victims were Palestinian and the world could shrug its shoulders and say: “yes but those Israelis and Palestinians are always fighting about something or another.” It took all the other developments above to bring about what we can hope is a sea change in US policy.
Thank you Richard 🥲 can’t get any worse … has all been so predictable for years … living in a whole abstract world of inhumanity … suffering is intense … stop the war … security comes with peace ☮️
Thanks for this report. It’s better news. So much cannot be undone. I’m still angry at Biden. He’s been hurting the entire situation by his reticence and fears… even stubborn blindness about how ineffective his words have been to the public about urging Netanyahu to cut it out. This is a strong threat, an ultimatum ;it sounds like it. Netanyahu will take him to the brink and may actually cut it out or not. The damage is done. Leadership is avoiding this disaster sooner.
fGrom the NYT today : Mr. Netanyahu did not immediately release a description of his call with Mr. Biden, but in other comments on Thursday he appeared unbowed. In a meeting in Jerusalem with visiting Republican lawmakers organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC, the prime minister pushed back strongly against Mr. Biden’s longstanding insistence on a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict.
“There is a contrary move, an attempt to force, ram down our throats a Palestinian state, which will be another terror haven, another launching ground for an attempt, as was the Hamas state in Gaza,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “That is opposed by Israelis, overwhelmingly.”
AIPAC/Republicans are working against Biden on separate tracks it seems, bolstering Netanyahu/opposition. Netanyahu can say he will do this or that, but we need to see action, some shots aimed at his feet so he dances.
I gotta say that this fear of a Palestinian state rests NOT on the fact that they would have something to LIVE for but the existential (selfish) fears of Israelis ( absurd at this point) and specifically Netanyahu’s personal mindset and situation. The thousands of deaths and even world opinion matter not.
I am so disappointed (disgusted) with Biden’s S-L-O-W fearful stubborn ineffective way of supposedly dealing with this situation that it’s hard not to feel that he is complicit and taking us ever closer to a disaster Trump electoral victory, and a bringing us to a real rebellion internally in the process as well. The way this war has been “handled” has made a strong Biden win in 2024 less likely which is what is needed to put down Trump.
A Greek tragedy is when one tries so hard to avoid tragedy, it happens, it is *brought about* in fact. This is Netanyahu for sure.. and Biden is making the same mistake but now trying to correct it because of counter threats and political calculations. So far the news is Biden is threatening more strongly. No action yet.
All of that said. I am voting for Biden still..being forced b/c there is no other choice though I’m thankful for the “uncommitted” movement.
Thank you
Richard,
What is this at the top of your Tikum Olam post? It says from Veterans For Peace UK. This post is absolutely not from Veterans For Peace UK so why is that title up there? Other than that, I agree with (most) of what you write. I will point out that Biden is a hypocrite and a long-time habitual, if not compulsive, liar. Yes, he makes threats to Netanyahu but at the same time sends more 2,000 lb. bombs and F-15 fighter jets to Israel and pushes a $14 billion aid package to Israel. His statement to Netanyahu, his partner in genocide, is nothing more than an attempt to hoodwink voters to think he is really getting tough and will actually stop supporting and enabling the genocide. This is nothing but dressed up bullshit. People and you should not be fooled by this! It is not a cause for hope or to let up our efforts. At the same time, the Biden admin and Israel are pushing for war with Iran, which could easily spiral into WWIII, which in turn could easily go nuclear. These are mentally twisted, unbalanced sociopaths with what Freud termed thanatos, a self-destructive drive for power and death. Not only will they bring the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophy and over that cliff, but will self-destruct in the process.
Thank you Richard for this excellent report. Thank goodness that President Biden made this ultimatum to Israel’s Netanyahu. As I said, continuing this military aid to Israel and with this war dragging on into the Fall, is the only thing that can result in President Biden’s defeat and Trump getting in again. Besides what Trump would do if he gets in again, you can be sure that there will really be a ton of righteous anger at Israel for this from the majority of people that voted for Biden, as it will be because Trump again was able to win by winning the electoral and not the popular vote. Righteous anger that Israel led by Netanyahu would have been able to convince an American president to give him those arms that are killing tens of thousands of Palestinians. That anger at Israel would also be from yours truly being that as a human, an American and as a Jew I already loathe Israel for what that country is already doing with what would be the latest event on top of everything else. It’s not only about the election in the Fall, but it was the right thing for the president to do. I hope Biden sticks firmly to this.
Joe Biden has always been at the forefront of the Neocon Dream … Iran above the horizon now. In 2012, President Barack Obama vetoed the attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran … a timely leak to the press … President Trump came close … Azerbaijan was readied. After 10/7 the opportunity was there … none of the generals in Israel, Pentagon or NATO allies made a secret of their intent. Russia and Iran are ONE. Axis of Evil … warmongers galore … miss Vicky Nuland already ☹
The overtures toward Erdogan and Türkiye reached its heights with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, called the darling of Doha and the Muslim Brotherhood. The UAE, Saudis, Israel defeated the Democrats in 2016. Trump-Kushner profited from the mishap and sought the UAE-Saudis to unite in the Abraham Accords w/o the Palestinians. The torture and murder of Khashoggi corrupted that plan.
Without an immediate decrease or cessation of US support to Israel, it’s hard to take a statement from Biden seriously.
WTF happened to AIPAC?
“Pelosi joins House Democrats urging Biden to halt arms transfers to Israel”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pelosi-joins-house-democrats-urging-biden-to-halt-arms-transfers-to-israel/
@Haver: Oh yeah! (:
The Year 2014 Was Evil Under Barack Obama …
However 2024 was so much worse under Joe Biden … the insane reign again.
You Are Sovereign … Fight Your Own Wars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–FYi2dNq3c
Golda Meir: “Be a man of courage, be responsible for your own state.” Excellent lesson for the Jewish State run by Bibi Netanyahu and the Ukraine run by Volodymyr Zelensky. What happened in 1967 … or in 2023?
The UN Charter demands nations to live in peace ☮️ alongside one another. Unwilling to negotiate?
WWII: Nuremberg trial prosecution based on “Charges of Crimes Against Peace.”