President Biden and other senior U.S. officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rejection of most of the administration’s recent requests related to the war in Gaza, four U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios.

Why it matters: Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack 100 days ago, Biden has given Israel his full backing, with unprecedented military and diplomatic support, even while taking a political hit from part of his base in an election year. That support has largely continued publicly, but behind the scenes, there are growing signs that Biden is losing his patience, the U.S. officials said.

  • “The situation sucks and we are stuck. The president’s patience is running out,” one U.S. official told Axios.
  • “At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who has been in close contact with U.S. officials about the war, told Axios. “They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again.”

Behind the scenes: Biden hasn’t spoken to Netanyahu in the 20 days since a tense Dec. 23 call, which a frustrated Biden ended with the words: “This conversation is over.” They had spoken almost every other day in the first two months of the war.

  • Before Biden hung up, Netanyahu had rejected his request that Israel release the Palestinian tax revenues it’s withholding.
  • National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tried to downplay the decrease in communication, telling reporters on Wednesday that “it doesn’t say anything” about the state of the relationship.
  • But more and more signs of irritation are emerging. “There is immense frustration,” a U.S. official said.
  • febra@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Bibi doesn’t give two craps about Biden. Bibi knows that the entire Gaza debacle is a mess for Biden. He probably bets on a GOP win later this year, which will come with a big wave of financial support for him anyway.

  • TwatMcTwatterson@lemmings.world
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    10 months ago

    He isn’t getting impatient with Bibi, he is getting scared he will lose the election before they can instigate Iran enough to feed the machine.

  • BobGnarley@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    Sure sure, running out of patience. How many days since they sent them more missles and weapons? What like, 11 or 12 days now? And before that Biden used an executive order to send even more? That was after we sent them an initial round of tons of weapons? Yeah Ill tell ya they’re bound to get a stern talking to any day now. I bet after they send them another 3 tons of ammunition the headlines will say something about how “the US is slamming Israel on their war in Gaza” Its so exhausting all this theater.

  • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    10 months ago

    How do you “run out of patience”? At some point, a line gets crossed. Bibi has either crossed the line, or he hasn’t. Saying “oh boy you’re trying my patience!” is about as toothless as my grandmother.

  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Biden went from

    “We have to end it before election season”

    to

    “y’all are fine with Genocide right?”

  • GodlessCommie@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Its fully within his power to pull 100% of the money Israel receives from the US and cut off all access to weapons. He has chosen not to.

    • RubberDuck@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      It sure it. But then, the most powerful kingmaker in the US is AIPAC, if they withdraw their support of Biden, he will struggle in the presidential race.

      Then the risk of a xenophobic wannabe dictator getting elected is put on the otherside of the scale.

      So if you look at this from a purely US point of view. The tradeoff is brown people half a world away die, vs the US becoming trumplandia with all the vengeance he has promised to bestow on his political rivals.

      So if it was your choice, what would you chose?

      Edit to clarify: yes it’s bizarre US allows PACs, corporations should not be treated as people, the situation is FUBAR.

      • crusa187@lemmy.ml
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        10 months ago

        Biden’s approval rating is 33%. AIPAC is of no consequence here - no incumbent in the history of US Federal elections has ever won with such abysmal polls in an election year. Not once, ever. Biden isn’t going to magically make history here, and his ego telling him he has to do 2 terms instead of allowing for a primary election so democracy can play out is the reason why.

        Then he has the audacity to claim democracy is on the line this year. It’s already gone, America is just in denial about it.

      • randon31415@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        People are going to look back in AIPAC and wonder… how AI got a political action committee before chatgtp 6.0 passed the Turning test.

  • Riccosuave@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    It has long been time to abandon the 🥕 and start using the stick.

    Maybe old Joe will finally get the picture that you cannot work with a hostile authoritarian who is trying to preserve their political ambitions through warmongering. Better late than never I guess, but holy fuck how much more obvious can it get.

    • doctorcrimson@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      TBH Joe is one of those ancient democrats that was around since segregation and was on the wrong side of the issue. I really truly wanted to believe that he had changed, that him serving as VP under Barack Obama had meant something, but clearly he’s still the same son of a bitch he was in his youth. I hope we get some real options in 2028 or I might be learning German and moving out of the US Shithole Country.

  • curiousaur@reddthat.com
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    10 months ago

    Biden is going to lose an election over it. Let’s try sanctions against Israel instead of, maybe, you know, giving them billions in military aid that’s being used to kill toddlers.

  • Zorque@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    “Biden realizes his polling numbers are falling and decides to do damage control”.

      • Zorque@kbin.social
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        10 months ago

        Every issue is a winning (or losing) issue in presidential elections. There’s far too many factors to assume any one thing can’t sway the tide.

        Hillary made that mistake in 2016.

        • PugJesus@kbin.social
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          10 months ago

          No, my point is that Biden will lose more voters than he gains on Israel if he changes course. Most of the US is still overwhelmingly pro-Israel despite the genocide on display.

          I absolutely think he should drop Israel like a hot potato, but not for domestic strategic reasons. It’ll damage his poll numbers, not help them.

          • NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social
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            10 months ago

            I don’t think so? Republicans won’t vote for him either way, and among Democrats support for Palestine has already overtaken support for Israel AFAIK. Biden’s current stance is losing him young voters like crazy.

            • sailingbythelee@lemmy.world
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              10 months ago

              And if Trump gets elected because those youngsters don’t vote… I guess they’ll learn the hard way that elections have consequences. How insignificant the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will seem if Trump becomes the first dictator in US history.

            • PugJesus@kbin.social
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              10 months ago

              and among Democrats support for Palestine has already overtaken support for Israel AFAIK.

              Compare support for continued Israeli aid, not support for Palestine. Lots of people claim support for Palestine, yet support continued aid to Israel. If you have something to the contrary, unironically, I’d love to see it. It’d be a rare bright light in these dark times.

              Biden’s current stance is losing him young voters like crazy.

              As a young voter, we generally don’t turn out in the requisite numbers.

              • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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                10 months ago

                As a young voter, we generally don’t turn out in the requisite numbers.

                And yet, we’re blamed for HRC losing. So which is it?

                • TheSanSabaSongbird@lemdro.id
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                  10 months ago

                  I believe the electoral college is blamed for HRC losing. Sure, it wasn’t the only factor, but it’s a pretty big deal that you can win the popular vote and still lose the election.

                • PugJesus@kbin.social
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                  10 months ago

                  I mean, for HRC’s loss the margin was razor-thin, but realistically it was due to her ignoring several states in favor of running up the margins in Cali to make her eventual win look more ‘legitimate’.

                  Huzzah electoral college. /s

              • NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social
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                10 months ago

                Lots of people claim support for Palestine, yet support continued aid to Israel.

                Oh I see.

                If you have something to the contrary, unironically, I’d love to see it.

                It’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but there.

                In late November.

                In late December.

                we generally don’t turn out in the requisite numbers.

                Yes, which is why Trump won in 2016. And change in that trend is how Biden won in 2020. Which is why if Biden can’t secure those votes he’ll lose in 2024. It could be a lose-lose situation, but from that perspective it seems like Biden is digging his own grave.

                • PugJesus@kbin.social
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                  10 months ago

                  A significant minority of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters (36%) disapprove of his handling of the war.

                  Like, don’t get me wrong, I would love if public sentiment turns against the war in Israel, but right now, it’s just… not.

                  Yes, which is why Trump won in 2016. And change in that trend is how Biden won in 2020. Which is why if Biden can’t secure those votes he’ll lose in 2024. It could be a lose-lose situation, but from that perspective it seems like Biden is digging his own grave.

                  I rather think this issue is a lose-lose situation in terms of losing voters. Which is one of the reasons I think it’s even more important that Biden take steps away from support of Israel - if you’re gonna lose voters either way, might as well make the decision that is both moral and strategically better for America.

        • alabasterhotdog@lemmy.ca
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          10 months ago

          There may be many factors but to just throw your hands up and say every issue is equally important is just plain foolish.

    • aew360@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      Or he is disgusted with how Netanyahu is waging genocide. The U.S. can’t just say “alright Israel, you’re on your own” because it would possibly lead to a nuclear conflict between Israel and Iran. Shit would get out of hand real fast when the militants try to storm Israel thinking it’s go time. I hate Netanyahu as much as I hate Khamenei and Hamas

      • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        The U.S. can’t just say “alright Israel, you’re on your own” because it would possibly lead to a nuclear conflict between Israel and Iran.

        As if Iran can’t possibly be responsible for it’s own actions.

        If Iran wants to invade that’s a problem with Iran, not the US.

        • aew360@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          Iran wouldn’t invade. They’d use their proxies abroad to stage an assault, and Israel may escalate without the U.S. holding it back by striking Iran directly

  • PugJesus@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    Good. Maybe this can be the turning point away from the US’s bootlicking support of Israel. Fuck Bibi and his genocidal goons.