There are many discordant notes between Israel and the USA, and tensions are also evident on the issue of arms deliveries. An escalation between Israel and Lebanon would be a further burden.
If there was any need for further proof that relations between the US and Israel are at an all-time low, then one only has to look at the open tensions of the past few hours. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was only just back in Israel for talks, as was Amos Hochstein, the US mediator for Lebanon. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the US head-on in a video message.
Netanyahu said it was “incomprehensible” that the US government had withheld weapons and ammunition for Israel in recent months. “Israel, America’s closest ally, is fighting for its life against Iran and our other common enemies.”
Secretary of State Blinken assured him “that the government is working day and night to eliminate this bottleneck.” He hopes that is the case, Netanyahu said. During World War II, Winston Churchill told the US: “Give us the tools, we will do the job. And I say: Give us the tools and we will do the job much faster.”
USA is largest Weapons supplier
Leaving aside the question of whether it is right to compare the war against Hamas with the fight against Nazi Germany, the USA is by far the largest supplier of weapons to Israel. Since October 7, deliveries have increased significantly.
In April, US President Joe Biden approved additional supplies to Israel worth 15 billion US dollars, including ammunition and bombs. The US State Department therefore promptly said that it did not know what Netanyahu was talking about.
Secretary of State Blinken said yesterday: “As you know, we are reviewing a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that President Biden talked about – because of our concern that they could be used in densely populated areas.” This is still being reviewed. Everything else is “business as usual”. In the long term, the goal is to ensure that Israel has everything it needs to defend itself against a variety of challenges.
Incomprehension about Netanyahu’s statements
There is great discontent: the USA has cancelled a government-level meeting this Thursday that was supposed to address the threat from Iran. The tensions come at a time when, on the one hand, the war in Gaza is far from over and, on the other hand, there is a threat of further escalation in the north with the terrorist militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Israeli armed forces have announced that operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon have been finalized. However, the political decision is still pending. US mediator Hochstein is currently trying to find a diplomatic solution in Lebanon.
There are also increasing doubts in Israel as to whether the army can even handle a major war in Lebanon – and a lack of understanding of Netanyahu’s statements. Investigative journalist Raviv Drucker said on Channel 13 that “our interest in and dependence on the US government” is beyond question.
“Clearly a one-sided step”
“Why is Netanyahu doing this? This is clearly a unilateral move that is driving the US government crazy and conveying weakness in our deterrence in our region,” Drucker continued. “What conclusions should Nasrallah and Khamenei draw when they hear that we are not receiving arms shipments from the US?”
There is also a certain understanding in Israel for the irritations in the USA, for example from Moshe Ya’alon, who was once Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff. He said on Israeli radio that the State of Israel was “of great value” to the USA, and that they had shown this for many years.
I also know what they have in us. But with this government that is out of touch with reality – unable to make a decision on a post-war order, unable to free hostages, and looking as though it would rather drag the United States into a regional war than accept the American framework – I can understand the Americans’ anger.
What does Netanyahu say to the US Congress?
Another event in the currently difficult relationship between Israel and the USA is due to take place at the end of July at the latest, when Netanyahu will give a speech to both houses of the US Congress. Several Democratic representatives have already announced that they will not attend the speech. US President Biden is reportedly not to be in Washington at that time.
And Netanyahu is still waiting for an invitation to the White House – ever since the partly right-wing extremist Israeli government came to power.