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President Joe Biden said there is “every reason” to think Netanyahu prolongs the war for political gain.
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His comments came during a recent interview with TIME.
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Biden previously drew up a plan for a permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages.
President Joe Biden said in a recent interview that there is “every reason” for people to conclude that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is citing the war in Gaza as a way to stay in power.
Biden’s comments came during a conversation with TIME, with the president giving some credence to positions expressed since the conflict began last October.
“There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion,” Biden told the newspaper.
Still, Biden tried to avoid direct criticism of Netanyahu. The interview took place three days before Biden delivered a major speech in which he laid out a three-part plan that would lead to a permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The president’s decision to publicly announce the plan was apparently made to put pressure on the Israeli government. On Monday, a senior Israeli official told NBC News that the proposal laid out by Biden was “not accurate.”
The official questioned the idea that Israel would completely withdraw from Gaza to secure the release of hostages.
“Israel has not changed its terms to reach a permanent ceasefire,” the official told NBC News. “That will only happen after our objectives have been achieved, including destroying Hamas’s military and governance capabilities.”
The New York Times reported that Netanyahu is aware of the potential for his ouster once the conflict ends, noting that street protests against the leader have regained strength.
Biden has tried to navigate what he says is the U.S. “ironclad” commitment to Israel, with his frustration over the way Netanyahu has conducted the war. The president also faces potential domestic political concerns as some progressive activists urge Democrats to adopt “unfettered” voting during the presidential primaries to send a message to the White House.
Read the original article on Business Insider
