The White House canceled a high-level meeting with Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video claiming the US was withholding military aid, causing outrage among top advisers to President Biden. US envoy Amos Hochstein personally delivered a message to Netanyahu refuting his accusations, leading to the cancellation of a Thursday meeting on Iran. This decision was seen as a response to Netanyahu’s video, as one US official stated that there were consequences for such actions.
In his video, Netanyahu claimed the US had been withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel, which was met with confusion by the White House. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that only one weapons shipment had been paused during the conflict. Several Israeli officials were already in Washington when the meetings were canceled, with conflicting reports on whether the meeting was canceled or postponed. This incident was the second time a meeting on the Iran strategic dialogue was canceled last minute, following a previous cancellation by Netanyahu in March.
The strained relations between Biden and Netanyahu were apparent in the cancellation of meetings due to disagreements over issues such as a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza. Netanyahu is still expected to address a joint meeting of Congress, which is likely to be a contentious speech amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The cancelation of the meeting was seen as a message to Netanyahu regarding his behavior, as the US expressed frustration over the claims made in the video.
The cancellation of the meeting with Israel highlighted the tensions between the two countries and their leaders. Netanyahu’s actions have been met with criticism from US officials, who viewed his video as damaging to the relationship between the two countries. The decision to cancel the meeting was a clear signal that there were consequences for spreading false information and making unsubstantiated claims, according to sources within the Biden administration.
The incident surrounding the cancellation of the meeting underscored the fragile nature of the US-Israel relationship under the leadership of Biden and Netanyahu. The public confusion over Netanyahu’s claims highlighted the lack of communication and understanding between the two governments. The cancelation of the meeting was seen as a necessary step to address the fallout from Netanyahu’s video and to send a message about the importance of honesty and transparency in diplomatic relations.
Overall, the cancelation of the high-level meeting between the US and Israel was a reflection of the strained relations between the two countries, exacerbated by Netanyahu’s video accusing the US of withholding military aid. The decision to cancel the meeting sent a clear message to Netanyahu about the consequences of making false claims and damaging the relationship between the two allies. Despite the cancelation, the Israeli leader is still expected to address Congress in July, setting the stage for a potentially contentious speech amid ongoing tensions in the region.
