2024-03-21 07:41:20
(CNN)— When US President Joe Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday, to send A team of senior Israeli officials to WashingtonHis hope was to pre-empt a large-scale ground invasion of Rafah, which the Biden administration believed would be a humanitarian disaster..
Whether the meeting, which is likely to take place early next week, will be able to achieve this goal remains an open question. There were signs Tuesday that — despite Biden’s dire warnings to Netanyahu in a 45-minute phone call the day before — the Israeli leader remains intent on entering Rafah, despite American urging.
This leaves Biden in a now familiar, if uncomfortable, position: Having taken a clear position on the invasion, Netanyahu appears poised to reject it outright.
Netanyahu said Tuesday during a speech before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset: “Out of respect for the president, we agreed on the way in which they can present their ideas to us, especially on the humanitarian side.”
He added: “But I made it as clear as possible to the president that we are determined to complete the elimination of these brigades in Rafah, and there is no way to achieve this without a ground incursion.”
Inviting Israeli officials to talks in Washington comes with some risks for Biden, depending on how Israel decides to proceed. On the one hand, he may appear ineffective in the midst of his re-election campaign if Netanyahu decides to go ahead with a major ground invasion despite White House warnings. On the other hand, providing Israel with clear alternatives — even if they are rejected — might steer the president away from a final decision to launch a major attack.
Some US officials told CNN they are not concerned regarding the Biden administration taking responsibility for a potential operation, because they remain skeptical that the two sides can reach an agreement at all. Administration officials have discussed potential responses if the invasion goes ahead, and some of Biden’s Democratic allies in Congress have made new calls for the White House to consider imposing conditions on military aid to Israel if Operation Rafah is initiated as the president faces intense pressure over his support for Israel from key parts of his coalition. .
A source familiar with the call said that Biden and Netanyahu’s call “helped clear the air” between the two leaders. The source added that it was like a “work conversation,” noting that it is always good to talk regarding working together and what the two sides agree on and what they disagree on.
But Netanyahu’s insistence on the necessity of a ground invasion appeared to conflict with Biden’s message to the prime minister during their phone conversation, Monday, during which the president expressed his deep reservations regarding a major attack of the type launched by Israel in cities such as Gaza and Khan Yunis.
Biden’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, announced on Monday, following the phone call, that “launching a major ground operation there would be a mistake.”
The Israeli attack on Rafah would mark a potential defining moment for Biden and his approach to the conflict. He said in an interview earlier this month that the Israelis carrying out the operation without a credible plan to protect civilians would be a “red line,” though he quickly added that he would “never leave Israel.”
The United States calls on Israel to clarify how it intends to protect an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have taken refuge in the southern Gaza Strip before its planned operation in Rafah. The Biden administration says that so far this plan has not been presented.
“The assumption is that if there was one, they would have shown it to us,” one senior administration official said.
No threats have been made regarding US aid to Israel… yet
Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that the Prime Minister had approved plans for the operation in Rafah. He added that the army “is preparing for the operational aspect and the evacuation of the population.” But one Israeli official told CNN that while the military plan in Rafah has been presented to the Israeli leadership, the humanitarian plan is still being prepared.
Few details have been provided publicly other than the suggestion that Gazans in Rafah – many of whom followed instructions from the Israeli military to leave the northern areas – would be moved to “humanitarian enclaves”.
Another possibility is to allow a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a move the United States has previously rejected, officials said.
Sullivan said that Biden did not make any threats regarding the future of American aid in his phone call with Netanyahu on Monday.
He added, “What the president said today is: I want you to understand, Mr. Prime Minister, exactly my position on this matter. I support the defeat of Hamas. I believe it is an evil terrorist group and they have the blood of not only Israeli, but American on their hands. At the same time, I believe that to achieve that “You need a successful strategy. That strategy should not involve a major military operation that puts the lives of thousands and thousands of civilians and innocent people at risk in Rafah. There is a better way.”
He also talked regarding Biden’s letter to Netanyahu, in which he told him: “Send your team to Washington. Let’s talk regarding it. We’ll show you what we think is a better way.”
Netanyahu’s office said on Tuesday that one of his closest associates, Ron Dermer, and Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi will head to Washington for the talks. The Israeli delegation will be accompanied by a representative – whose name has not yet been mentioned – of the Israeli military body that coordinates humanitarian efforts.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is also scheduled to host Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant at the Pentagon next week, according to a defense official.
He added, “The two leaders will discuss a range of topics, including efforts to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the need for more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians, and plans to ensure the safety of more than a million people who have taken refuge in Rafah while ensuring that Hamas does not… “It is considered capable of posing a threat to Israel.”
The official added that the meeting comes following Austin extended an invitation to an official visit, which is separate from the meeting that was announced following the call between Biden and Netanyahu.
Senate Republicans rallied around Netanyahu following Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described him last week as an obstacle to peace. The prime minister is expected to address Senate Republicans via video during a closed-door conference Thursday, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The United States is pressing for a more targeted operation
Sullivan said on Monday that the United States had developed some alternatives to an operation in Rafah that would be effective “without a major ground invasion.”
Administration officials said US officials look forward to advising Israel to focus more on high-value precision targeting as they recently did successfully with the killing of a prominent Hamas leader, Marwan Issa.
Expectations within the White House are that Israel will not proceed with its operation in Rafah before the meeting between American and Israeli officials takes place in Washington, saving several days before any possible attack.
The administration remains hopeful that an agreement can soon be reached guaranteeing the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a temporary ceasefire – an agreement that would halt Israel’s plans for Rafah.
Officials had previously warned that a major operation in Rafah was likely to scuttle sensitive hostage negotiations. Current and former officials said that the US administration’s move to invite the Israeli delegation to talks regarding Rafah next week was part of an attempt to buy time for the hostage deal to be completed.
On Monday, negotiators met in Qatar to continue painstaking talks on reaching an agreement, but they were unable to agree on a plan.
Regional experts were not optimistic regarding the two sides reaching an agreement, but stressed that talking is better than not talking.
“It appears that the president made a direct personal request and the prime minister felt the need to comply with the request, as well as assert that he is the leader of a sovereign nation that will make its own decisions,” Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for International and Strategic Policy in Washington, told CNN. He added, “I am sure that neither side will emerge completely convinced, but each side will feel that it has been heard.”
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