The White House responded on Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s recent claim that the Biden administration is withholding weapons from Israel. “We genuinely do not know what he is talking about,” a spokesperson said.
Why It Matters
Netanyahu’s remarks, made on video in English, mark one of his most severe public criticisms of the Biden administration since the war in Gaza began on October 7. U.S. has stated that they have only paused one weapons shipment since the conflict’s onset, while providing billions of dollars worth of arms and ammunition to Israel.
The Paused Shipment
The shipment in question, which was put on hold in May, included 3,500 bombs for fighter jets, many of which were 2,000-pound bombs. This pause was intended to signal U.S. concerns over a potential Israeli ground operation in Rafah.
Since then, President Biden has faced increasing pressure from fellow Democrats to cut off or condition military aid to Israel due to Palestinian civilian casualties. However, Biden has declined to take such actions.
White House’s Clarification
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified on Tuesday that apart from the paused shipment, “everything else is moving.”
Netanyahu’s Claims
In the video, Netanyahu stated he had a “candid conversation” about arms deliveries with Secretary of State Tony Blinken during his last visit to Israel.
“I said it’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” Netanyahu said. He added that Blinken assured him the administration was working to remove “bottlenecks,” and expressed hope that this would be the case.
Netanyahu further compared his situation to that of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, stating, “Churchill told the United States, ‘give us the tools, we’ll do the job.’ And I say, ‘give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster.'”
Blinken’s Response
During a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, Blinken responded to Netanyahu’s comments but declined to confirm if Netanyahu had accurately characterized their conversation. Blinken emphasized the broader scope of the U.S.-Israel security relationship beyond the Gaza conflict and assured that the U.S. would ensure Israel has the necessary resources to defend itself against threats from Iran and Hezbollah.
“We continue to review one shipment that President Biden talked about regarding 2,000-pound bombs because of our concern about their use in densely populated areas like Rafah. That remains under review. But everything else is moving as it normally would move to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against a multiplicity of threats,” Blinken said.
This latest development underscores the ongoing tension and complexities in the U.S.-Israel relationship amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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