Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant has begun meetings and discussions in Washington, in which, according to Israeli media, he will present the plan for the day after the war in the Gaza Strip, while tensions are escalating between the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that during his visit to Washington, Gallant will present the plan for the next day of the war on Gaza, adding that he will inform the American administration that the Israeli army will soon move to the third phase of the war.
Gallant said in a statement before heading to Washington: “We are ready for any action that may be necessary in Gaza, Lebanon, and other regions,” and explained that he would meet his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.
Some Israeli officials link the army’s current intensification of its incursion into Rafah, where it says it is targeting the last Hamas brigades, with the possibility that the focus will then shift to Lebanon, and Gallant also seemed to link the two matters in his comments.
third level
Gallant said: “The transition to the third phase in Gaza is of great importance. I will discuss this transition with American officials, and how it is likely to provide additional things, and I know that we will achieve close cooperation with the United States in this regard as well.”
For its part, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted sources as saying that the Israeli army had ended most of the ground operations in Rafah, which were determined by the political leadership.
These sources confirmed that the army practically controls the Philadelphia axis, and that the political leadership set the goal of striking 60% of Hamas’ strength in Rafah and completing the mission in the following months.
Gallant, a member of the Likud party, has disagreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads the party, in the past few months, demanding a clearer post-war plan in Gaza that does not leave responsibility for the Strip in the hands of Israel, a demand that was similarly issued by the White House.
Netanyahu faces difficulties as he seeks to keep his government together by balancing the demands of the defense establishment, including former generals like Gallant, and far-right coalition partners who are resistant to any post-Gaza war strategy that could open the way to a future Palestinian state.
Tension with the White House
On the other hand, the American website Axios quoted a White House official as saying that they reject Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new accusations regarding American arms supplies.
The official added – according to the website – that we will not respond to Netanyahu’s statements, and we look forward to constructive consultations with Defense Minister Yoav Galant in Washington.
Netanyahu had confirmed that the dispute with the United States over the delay in the delivery of weapons related to the Gaza war would be resolved soon, amid escalating tensions between the two allies.
Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday: “I greatly appreciate the support of President Joe Biden and the American administration for Israel – morally and materially – with means of defense and means of attack, but about 4 months ago there was a significant decline in arms supplies coming from the United States to Israel, and over a period of many weeks.” We appealed to our American friends to expedite shipments, and we have done so repeatedly.”
He pointed out that Israel had obtained some weapons, but another large quantity had not arrived, and stressed that senior Israeli officials had exerted pressure on their American counterparts “at the highest levels, and at all levels” in order to accelerate the delivery of weapons.
Netanyahu had previously criticized the Biden administration in a video recording, and stated that it was unreasonable for Washington to withhold weapons and ammunition from Israel during the past months.
Netanyahu called on the American administration to lift the restrictions imposed on military support for Israel, with the aim of completing the mission faster, as he put it.
He also added in his statement that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken assured him that the US administration is working to remove restrictions on providing weapons to Israel.
Graham: Let’s give Israel what it needs
In this context, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said after his meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant that he would work in Congress to deliver weapons to Israel.
Graham explained, “The arms package for Israel received the support of a majority of both parties (Republican and Democratic), and we must send it.”
He said in another statement to Fox News that slowing the delivery of weapons to Israel will prolong the war, and that the United States must give Israel what it needs to win the battle, according to him.
In the same context, American officials said that American arms shipments to Israel have declined by 50% in recent months.
They attributed the reasons for the decline in sending weapons to Israel to the fact that the first shipments were sent without Congressional approval.
