Netanyahu and Biden are fighting - Minister Hili Trooper is trying to put out the flames.
"I think the partnership is still ambiguous enough to succeed in the fight itself," he said in an interview with Audi Segal and Anat Davidov on 103FM.
"I also prefer to manage the friction as much as possible inside the closed rooms. Although there is a certain disagreement regarding Rafih with the US, it is better to manage it as one manages a dispute between friends.
When we went to war, there were clear goals - there is no Hamas rule, the abductees are at home and there is security for the residents of the south.
Most Israelis are in this position.
Even when Gantz was in the US, he went to the rooms, we didn't always agree on everything, but we understand that this friendship is super important to us, and it has practical meaning. We have to make our own decisions."
As you remember, Biden was interviewed on Sunday night by the MSNBC network and claimed that Netanyahu "hurts Israel more than he protects it" in the conduct of the war in Gaza.
Days before, after delivering the annual "State of the Nation" speech in the US Congress, he was caught on camera saying he had to have a "alignment conversation" with the Prime Minister.
In response to this, Netanyahu said yesterday in an interview with the 'Politico' website that, according to him: "If Biden meant that I lead a policy against the majority of the Israeli public and that it harms Israel's interests - he is wrong. This is not just my private policy, it is a policy that is supported by the vast majority of the Israelis".
Meanwhile, Troper referred to Gantz's political visit to the US and the UK - to which he went without the permission of the Prime Minister.
"Ganz went because there are differences and we want to try to settle them, it is better to sit down with any other important figure in the administration and try to bridge the gaps," Troper explained, referring to the voices in the American leadership who oppose the expansion of the operation to Rafah - including Biden himself, who claimed that it would be a "red line" "Stable
"I don't hear the Americans saying not to enter Rafah, but to enter after it is clear that there are plans to evacuate the population and humanitarian concerns," said the minister.
"We are trying to conduct the war in which harm to the innocent is avoided, and we will continue to do so. We are really not trying to create friction with the American administration. This is such a complex issue that it cannot be solved in one go, Gantz continues to be in contact with all the senior American figures. Not impressed by who who knows exactly that he has a recipe and a menu on how to do it. It's a complex issue, I don't have an unequivocal answer on how to do it."
Hili Trooper in an interview at the Walla! studio, February 2, 2023/Reuven Castro
"There are too many unnecessary statements towards the US, there are unfortunately quite a few ministers who speak too many big words that are of no use," admitted Minister Trooper. "We have to choose our battles with our friendship as well.
We thought that the outline they laid down could make it possible to reach a deal.
At the moment Israel is not preventing it.
Regarding the decision of Hamas, we understand that we need to reach Rafah at some point.
It is true that sometimes there are gaps, for example regarding the day after.
We are already the day after in some areas in the Gaza Strip.
We think it was right to speed up the actions that allow freedom of action for the IDF, but we do not want to take on the civilian responsibility. There are ministers in the government who want a military government and full control, there are those who talk about settlements. It is a mistake for Israel to manage the civilian side, we need to create local forces Palestinians will manage it."
At the end, he referred to the statement of the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yitzhak Yosef, and clarified: "I am ashamed. I think there is also blasphemy here. In my eyes, it is the same thing. It is clear that when your brothers fight, you go out to fight with them. Beyond the fact that this is a world view that does not fit with my Judaism, I am ashamed A person who holds a Zionist office says that his stay in the country is conditional."
More on the same topic:
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
trooper troops
Benny Gantz
Benjamin Netanyahu
Joe Biden
United States