‘He’s wrong’: PM bluntly rejects Biden critique, says most Israelis back his policies

After president charged he’s ‘hurting Israel more than helping,’ Netanyahu says public doesn’t want PA in Gaza, vows to expand campaign into Rafah, rebuffing Biden’s ‘red line’

By Lazar Berman
 10 March 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded publicly and directly on Sunday to biting personal criticism from US President Joe Biden the day before, saying in an interview that the US president was “wrong” when asserting that he is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his handling of the war against Hamas.

Responding to Biden’s comments to MSNBC, Netanyahu told Politico, “I don’t know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant by that I’m pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis, and that this is hurting the interests of Israel, then he’s wrong on both counts.”

“These are not my private policies only,” Netanyahu continued. “They are policies supported by the overwhelming majority of Israelis.”

The comments appeared to be a direct rebuke of White House messaging seemingly aimed at telegraphing unhappiness with Netanyahu while still signaling strong support for Israel by highlighting gaps between the Israeli people and their prime minister.

The idea was underlined by US Vice President Kamala Harris, who said Saturday that it was important to avoid conflating the Israeli government and Israeli people.

Netanyahu also suggested he has the quiet support of Arab countries, who see the Iran-backed Palestinian terror group as a threat. He did not name any.

“They understand that, and even agree with it quietly,” he said. “They understand Hamas is part of the Iranian terror axis.”

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A statement from Netanyahu’s office distributing the interview clip Sunday stated explicitly in its title that Netanyahu was responding directly to Biden. The clip did not include other comments from Netanyahu later published by Politico, in which he vowed to defy international warnings against invading the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Continue reading at www.timesofisrael.com/

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