(Daily Mail) An Israeli official has accused the Biden administration of trying to undermine Prime Minister Netanyahu after a US report cited a ‘distrust’ in his ability to rule.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence Report said that Netanyahu’s ‘viability as leader as well may be in jeopardy’.
The report, released on Monday, also said that the US expects large protests demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and elections in the coming months.
In a response seen by Axios, a senior official released a statement saying: ‘Those who elect the Prime Minister of Israel are the citizens of Israel and no one else.
‘Israel is not a vassal state of the U.S. but an independent and democratic country whose citizens are the ones who elect the government.’
President Joe Biden has been showing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – above the two men meet in Tel Aviv in October
President Biden has in recent weeks sharpened his rhetoric on the Israeli response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
His administration has grown increasingly unhappy with the mounting civilian death toll, now at more than 30,000, in Gaza from bombings and ground operations.
The statement from the Israeli official added: ‘We expect our friends to act to overthrow the terror regime of Hamas and not the elected government in Israel.’
Biden has repeatedly criticized Israel’s heavy-handed approach, calling it ‘over the top’ and urging a ceasefire to help starving civilians.
Then after the State of the Union, he was caught on a hot mic telling Democratic colleagues he planned to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting with Netanyahu.
The rift between the two has set raised questions about whether Biden might restrict military aid if Israel goes ahead with a ground offensive in Gaza.
Any decision by Biden, who has called himself a ‘Zionist,’ to get tough with Israel would run counter to his decades-old history as an ardent supporter of the country.
Netanyahu hit back at Biden on Monday morning, laying out of his own red line in Gaza.
Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, on Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv
A man walks past placards with photos of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel
