US President Joe Biden is expected to land in Israel tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for a short visit of a few hours in order to identify with Israel, but not only. Biden will stay in Israel between 10:00 a.m. and 15:00 p.m., after which he will take off back to the United States. Throughout the entire visit, Biden will remain in Tel Aviv, where he is expected to travel from Ben Gurion Airport directly to the Kirya, where he will meet with President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Among other things, a conversation is expected with representatives of the families of the abductees and dead with American citizenship.
The American president's presence in Israel in time of war is a significant backing for Israel and recalls his brief visit to Ukraine as a message not only to local enemies but to the Iran-Russia-China axis that is closely watching what is happening in the Middle East.
A sign thanking President Biden,
The American president has already spoken by phone with Netanyahu five times since the massacre on Saturday, October 07, and has pledged his support for Israel. But alongside the war aid and the sending of two aircraft carriers to our region, cabinet ministers claim that the US is pressuring for humanitarian measures for the benefit of the people of Gaza during the war.
A senior cabinet minister told Israel Hayom that "it was clear that the American support also had a price." Indeed, in recent days the United States has demanded that Israel's war measures in Gaza be separated from the civilian population and given humanitarian relief such as the provision of fuel and water and the entry of goods through the Rafah crossing.
A denial of such measures came out of the Prime Minister's Office several times. Throughout the day, cabinet ministers spoke out against such humanitarian measures, but did not deny the American pressure. The new Knesset member in the coalition, Zeev Elkin, said clearly about the policy required by Israel from a humanitarian perspective: "The policy should be: Until the abductees return – zero humanitarian aid. Even if there are allegations against us, they should come with them to Hamas."
Netanyahu to Biden: "They handcuffed dozens of children, burned them and executed them" // Photo: Omer Meron
Regarding the northern sector, it was also claimed that Israel promised the United States that it would not act first. Indeed, in light of reports from the northern sector, at this stage the deployment on the border is stretched to the limit, but the responses are to actions by Hezbollah and not to initiated activity.
Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the Knesset yesterday at the opening of the Winter Conference and again warned Hezbollah and Iran. "Don't test us in the north. Do not repeat the mistake you once made, because today the price you will pay will be much heavier. President Biden told you in English: Don't, I'm telling you the same thing in Hebrew: Be careful."
Netanyahu at the plenum, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Also in the US sector, last night the small political-security cabinet was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Israel for a second visit. Prior to his participation in the cabinet, the US State Department said that "the minister emphasized his firm support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism and reaffirmed the US determination to provide the Israeli government with what it needs to protect its citizens.
"The Secretary spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu in close coordination between the United States and the United Nations and regional partners to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The secretary also discussed our commitment to the safe and speedy release of those held hostage by Hamas."
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