On video: Biden in a message to Israel: Humanitarian aid to Gaza cannot be a bargaining chip/photo: Reuters
Senior security officials advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the members of the War Cabinet, during a discussion held on Thursday evening, to sign as soon as possible the letter of commitment regarding the use of American weapons - which the Biden administration demands - according to two senior Israeli officials.
why is it important:
The Biden administration demanded two weeks ago that Israel sign a letter of commitment according to which the use of American weapons in Gaza will only be in accordance with international law and that Israel will allow and not directly or indirectly block humanitarian aid that is delivered to the Strip by the US or that receives US support.
The Biden administration asked to receive the signed letter by mid-March.
The US Secretary of State, Lincoln, has to inform Congress by March 25 that Israel has provided the US with a "reliable and reliable" written commitment. Without this commitment, the supply of weapons to Israel will be suspended.
The requirement to obtain a written commitment is part of a new policy announced by the President/Reuters
Behind the Scenes:
The Israeli officials stated that the representatives of the defense establishment stressed to the members of the War Cabinet that at this stage the Biden administration treats the Israeli signature as a technical matter only, however, as long as Israel delays the signing of the letter, the Americans may treat the matter as a political issue.
During the discussion, Defense Minister Gallant suggested that he be the one to sign the letter of commitment to the Americans.
At the end of the discussion, no decision was made and further consultation on the issue is expected to take place on Sunday.
As long as Israel delays the signing, the Americans may treat the matter as a political issue/official website, Attorney General, Kobi Gideon
reminder:
The requirement to receive such a written commitment is part of a new policy announced by President Biden in early February.
Although the new policy is not focused only on Israel, it was published following pressure exerted by American senators who expressed concern about Israel's use of American weapons in the war in Gaza.
The request to receive the letter of commitment is the result of a new national security memorandum published by the White House that deals with the responsibility of countries that use American weapons.
The memorandum published on February 8, concerns every country in the world that uses American weapons, but is relevant these days mainly to Israel against the background of the war in Gaza.
According to the new American policy, before supplying American weapons to a certain country, that country must provide the US with a "written, credible and reliable undertaking" that it will not use these weapons in a way that would violate international law.
The new policy states that countries that use American weapons in combat zones must also provide a written commitment that they will "allow and not arbitrarily block directly or indirectly" the transfer of American humanitarian aid or humanitarian aid that receives American support.
The new memorandum states that if this written commitment is not delivered to the American government within 45 days of its publication - that is, until the last week of March - American arms shipments to that country will be suspended.
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