Between the two leaders, the gap continues to widen.
Joe Biden praised Friday the “good speech” delivered the day before by the leader of the Democratic senators, and very critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“He gave a good speech and I think he expressed important concerns, which are not only his but which are shared by many Americans,” said the president about this intervention by Chuck Schumer, personality highest-ranking Jew in the American legislature.
The senator estimated Thursday that "new elections were the only way to allow a healthy decision-making process" on the future of the country, judging that "Prime Minister Netanyahu (had) lost his way, leaving his survival politics come before the best interests of Israel.
Does the American president also want elections and the departure of Benyamin Netanyahu, a journalist wanted to know on Friday, during the daily press briefing at the White House?
“It will be up to the Israeli people to decide,” said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council.
Catastrophic humanitarian situation
Chuck Schumer's remarks Thursday in the Senate made all the more noise as the leader of the Democratic senators had, until now, refrained from openly criticizing the way in which Israel has been carrying out its military offensive since the The unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7.
According to Chuck Schumer, who also called for the resignation of the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, in office since 2005, Benjamin Netanyahu is “too willing to tolerate the human toll among civilians in Gaza”.
Video.
Gaza: Biden vents his frustration with Netanyahu without knowing he is being filmed
A few days ago, the American president also estimated that the leader was “doing more harm than good to Israel” with his conduct of the war in Gaza, where the catastrophic humanitarian situation continues to worsen.
“Bibi, you’re going to have to get it into your head”
Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke for the last time on February 15, and the atmosphere between the two leaders, whose relationship has always been difficult, has continued to become tense since.
Beyond the conflict and the humanitarian crisis, the two men completely differ on the long-term prospects for the region.
The Israeli Prime Minister publicly and firmly rejected the prospect of a future Palestinian state, which the White House defends.
Also read: Israel-Hamas: Netanyahu and the United States show their disagreement on the post-war period
“Humanitarian aid cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” the American president said to the Israeli leader on March 8, in a solemn speech at the Capitol.
“I told him,
Bibi, you’re going to have to get it into your head
,” Joe Biden then said during an aside with a senator and Antony Blinken, using the nickname of the Israeli Prime Minister.
Realizing that a microphone had picked up this informal exchange, the American president, far from appearing upset, said: “That's good.
»