Biden and Netanyahu ‘have not spoken’ in three weeks amid split over war

Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu had previously spoken on a near-daily basis following the October 7 attack – POOL/VIA REUTERS

Joe Biden has reportedly not spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu in three weeks amid a growing split between the pair over the Israeli prime minister’s handling of the war in Gaza.

The White House is dismayed by Mr Netanyahu’s lack of vision for ending the conflict and lack of support for future Palestinian governance of the enclave, Israel’s two leading newspapers reported on Monday.

The Israeli leader has ignored repeated US calls to discuss a possible post-war settlement, including bringing in the Palestinian Authority (PA) to play a role in Gaza once it has been rid of Hamas – a move that would be unpopular domestically.

Amid the rising tension, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Biden have not held direct talks since a Dec 23 phone call that the US president reportedly ended abruptly after Mr Netanyahu refused to release withheld tax revenues to the PA, according to the Israeli media reports.

“This conversation is over,” Mr Biden was said to have told the Israeli leader before hanging up.

The pair had previously spoken on a near-daily basis following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

Israel’s Ma’ariv daily newspaper on Monday warned Mr Netanyahu against setting the country on a “direct collision course with the US administration”.

A house destroyed by an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip – MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS

It came after the Israeli prime minister told a press conference on Saturday that “nothing will stop us on the way to victory”, a comment that was widely seen as a nod to growing US frustration with the war.

Before the end of last year, Washington was reportedly pressuring Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to reduce the number of civilian casualties there by scaling down the offensive.

Israel has since withdrawn some of its troops from northern Gaza and reduced the intensity of its airstrikes in parts of the enclave, but the country’s leadership is still yet to give any clear indication of when the war will end.

The US was also said to be concerned that Mr Netanyahu may see a possible expansion of fighting into southern Lebanon, focused on pushing back Hezbollah from the border area, as a means of holding on to power in the face of criticism for the security failures that made Hamas’s onslaught possible.

But Israeli officials have largely remained unmoved by Washington’s increasing irritation, and have openly refused certain requests, including unfreezing the tax revenues that it collects for the PA but has until now held back.

The US fears that depriving the PA of the income source while more than 150,000 Palestinian workers remain barred from entering Israel to work will add to upheaval in the West Bank, which it partly governs.

Israel’s leadership is yet to give any clear indication of when the war will end – TYRONE SIU/REUTERS

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s hard-Right finance minister, who was behind the initial block on the transfer of the funds, doubled down on his decision following last week’s visit by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, to Tel Aviv.

“We will continue to fight with all of our might to destroy Hamas, and we will not transfer a shekel to the PA that will go to the families of Nazis in Gaza,” he said.

The White House has repeatedly condemned incendiary statements issued by Mr Smotrich and other hard-right members of Mr Netanyahu’s government.

The Israeli prime minister has appeared unwilling to rein in the nationalist faction within his cabinet, fearing any move to do so would lead to a walkout that would collapse the governing coalition.

Experts said Mr Netanyahu’s strategy appeared to be focused on “playing both sides” in a bid to retain the support of Israel’s main ally but also appease coalition partners keen for Israel to continue its forceful response to Hamas’s attack.

“Netanyahu is prolonging this war to stay in power,” Mairaz Zonszein, a senior Israel analyst at the Crisis Group, told the Telegraph.

“He would tell his allies the US is pressuring him, and he can tell the US the far-right ministers are blocking him. He plays both sides.”

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