On video: Biden in a message to Israel: Humanitarian aid to Gaza cannot be a bargaining chip/photo: Reuters
US President Joe Biden was heard saying in a corridor conversation with an American senator after his "State of the Nation" speech last night that he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they were going to have a "alignment" conversation about the war in Gaza, according to a video of the conversation.
President Biden: "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting."
"I'm on a hot mic here. Good. That's good."
pic.twitter.com/KCgpbx4awf
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) March 8, 2024
President Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Nation Address, March 8, 2024/Reuters
why is it important
Biden used the term "Come to Jesus meeting" - which means to have a direct and difficult conversation about a disagreement between two people.
The President's words were further evidence of his growing frustration with Netanyahu's policy regarding the war in Gaza as well as the day after the war.
what are they saying
Democratic senator of Jewish origin Michael Bennett who represents the state of Colorado approached Biden after the speech and told him about his recent visit to Israel and Jordan.
"You have to keep pressing them on humanitarian aid," Bennett told Biden.
"I told him - Bibi - and don't repeat what I'm telling you now - you and I are going to have a meeting where we will have a come to Jesus meeting," Biden replied.
The president, who was standing with Senator Bennett and Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Minister of Transportation Pete Buttige, realized at one point that he was being recorded and said: "I'm here with an open microphone. Good. That's good."
President Biden in his State of the Nation Address, March 8, 2024/Reuters
The big picture
Biden's "State of the Nation" speech signaled a significant change of direction in the American president's approach to the war in Gaza and the White House's loss of patience with the Israeli government.
The President spoke with restraint and politeness, but his words reflected the harsh messages that Minister Benny Gantz heard in the closed rooms of the White House a few days earlier.
In his speech, Biden spoke for the first time about 30,000 Palestinians who were killed during the war and claimed that most of them were not members of Hamas.
This is the adoption of the data published by the Health Ministry of Hamas in Gaza.
The humanitarian crisis in the Strip occupied a central part of the American President's speech.
Biden did not mention Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech, but addressed the "Israeli leadership" and called on them to take the crisis in the Strip seriously.
"Humanitarian aid cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting the lives of innocent civilians must be a priority," the president said.
Congress at the start of Joe Biden's State of the Nation address, March 8, 2024/Reuters
the other side
A senior Israeli claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his advisers were actually relatively satisfied with Biden's speech and emphasized that his announcement about the construction of a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza was coordinated with and accepted by Israel.
"Biden's speech was much better than Kamala's," said an Israeli official while pointing to the vice president's speech last Sunday, during which she harshly criticized Israel.
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