With Shabbat in full swing Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a special statement in English this morning. Netanyahu says that “The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions [i.e., the destruction of Hamas and the freeing of all hostages] are fulfilled is a non-starter.”
The Prime Minister's Office:
Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2024
Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2024
The Times of Israel works up an analysis of Netanyahu’s statement here. Without seeing the text of the “highly detailed four-and-a-half-page document” setting forth the terms of the deal to which Israel’s war cabinet has agreed, according to the ToI story, I think it is fair to say that Biden seeks to exploit the division in Israel’s war cabinet and to depose Netanyahu. Biden has proved himself a practitioner of the art of the backstab as he continues his long history of foreign policy missteps and disasters.
