Biden’s Weapon Delay Sparks Divisions Among Israeli Politicians as Criticism Mounts

Following US President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would halt some weapon deliveries to Israel if a full-scale invasion of Rafah occurred, Israeli officials have expressed strong criticism and divisions within the country’s political landscape. Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, stated that the decision “can encourage the enemies of the State of Israel and the Israeli nation.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of a previous speech, where he said, “If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.” These statements were met with criticism from some Israeli politicians, including Miki Zohar, who referred to the international community’s forgetfulness regarding the deadly terrorist attacks that took place in Israel in 2001, in which Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people and kidnapped over 250. President Isaac Herzog warned against “baseless, irresponsible, and insulting statements and tweets,” while Yair Lapid, from the centrist Yesh Atid party, threatened that “if Netanyahu does not fire Ben Gvir today, he is endangering every soldier in the IDF and every citizen in the State of Israel.” Merav Michaeli, the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, also criticized Netanyahu and his government, stating that they “continue to make Israel’s strategic situation worse.” This announcement by Biden marks a turning point in the seven-month conflict, as the US has previously stood firmly with Israel, providing them with weapons and support amidst mounting international pressure over civilian casualties in Gaza. However, Biden’s decision has sparked significant anger among certain Israeli politicians, exposing deep divisions within the country’s political landscape.