[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AS THE U-S PUSHES ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO ACCEPT A CEASE-FIRE DEAL, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CAUGHT UP IN A NEW CONTROVERSY OVER RECENT COMMENTS HE MADE SUGGESTING ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU MAY BE PROLONGING THE WAR IN GAZA FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH TIME PUBLISHED TUESDAY, A REPORTER ASKED BIDEN IF THOUGHT NETANYAHU WAS DRAWING OUT THE WAR FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL REASONS. BIDEN ANSWERED:

“THERE IS EVERY REASON FOR PEOPLE TO DRAW THAT CONCLUSION.”

AN ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON RESPONDED, SAYING BIDEN’S COMMENTS WERE “OUTSIDE THE DIPLOMATIC NORMS OF EVERY RIGHT-THINKING COUNTRY.”

BIDEN’S WORDS COME AS NETANYAHU IS SEEING WANING SUPPORT AT HOME.

OPINION POLLS SHOW MOST ISRAELIS WOULD VOTE HIM OUT IF AN ELECTION WERE HELD SOON. 

ISRAELIS SURVEYED ALSO BLAMED NETANYAHU FOR SECURITY FAILURES AHEAD OF HAMAS’ OCTOBER 7TH TERROR ATTACK. 

AND THOUSANDS HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREET, DEMANDING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DO MORE TO BRING HOSTAGES HOME, EVEN CALLING FOR NETANYAHU TO RESIGN.

PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE THE COMMENTS TO TIME ON MAY 28TH, JUST DAYS BEFORE HE PUSHED THE MOST RECENT CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL. 

HE REJECTED ACCUSATIONS ISRAEL IS USING STARVATION OF GAZANS AS WARFARE.

BUT DID SAY HE THINKS ISRAEL HAS “ENGAGED IN ACTIVITY THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.”

WHEN ASKED IF ISRAELI FORCES HAVE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES, BIDEN SAID HE WAS “UNCERTAIN.” 

HE PREVIOUSLY SAID ISRAEL HAS NOT ENGAGED IN GENOCIDE. THOSE REMARKS COMING IN RESPONSE TO I-C-C ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR NETANYAHU FOR ALLEGED WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND GENOCIDE. 

THE WHITE HOUSE ON TUESDAY ACKNOWLEDGED DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT. BUT MAINTAINED ITS COMMITMENT TO DEFEND ISRAEL AGAINST HAMAS AND NEGOTIATE A CEASE-FIRE DEAL.

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