On Thursday, United States President Joe Biden privately demanded in a “tough” call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he stop escalating tensions in the region and work towards a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, according to Axios, citing two US officials.
Biden and his top advisers were not pleased by the aftermath of Israel’s assassinations in Tehran and Beirut, which took place less than a week after Netanyahu’s first visit to the Oval Office in four years.
However, they believe Netanyahu kept the assassination plans secret from Biden, despite giving the impression last week that he was paying attention to the president’s request to prioritize securing a deal for Gaza.
US officials told Axios that Biden called Netanyahu to discuss joint US-Israeli military preparations to hit back at Iran and Hezbollah, and to make it clear that he was not pleased with the Israeli prime minister’s actions in the past week. Biden also warned Netanyahu that if he proceeds with escalating, he shouldn’t count on US support to bail him out.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu told President Biden that he appreciates the American support, and as Prime Minister of Israel he acts solely according to the security needs of the State of Israel,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Behind the scenes: At the end of the meeting with Netanyahu in the Oval office last Thursday, Biden became emotional, raised his voice and told Netanyahu he needs to reach a Gaza deal as soon as possible, three Israeli officials with knowledge of the meeting told Axios.
“Biden raised his voice and said he wants a deal reached within a week to two weeks,” a senior Israeli official said. “Biden told Netanyahu that a hostage and ceasefire deal is the most important thing right now,” he added.
Shortly after, when the president and the Israeli prime minister met with the families of the American hostages held in Gaza, Biden doubled down on his message to Netanyahu.
“We are at an inflection point … we need to do everything to end the war and reach regional stability, even if the deal is not perfect. Hamas wants the deal right now. It might change,” Biden told Netanyahu, according to the notes of one of the participants.
Biden stressed that there is a basis for a ceasefire and told Netanyahu he should “move on it now.”
When asked if the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has ruined the chances for a deal, Biden replied: “It hasn’t helped.”
