According to the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, US Prez Joe Biden’s proposal for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal to end the war in Gaza was only part of the full package.
In a meeting with parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee on Monday, a spokesman for his office stated that Israel is willing to break hostilities for the purpose of returning hostages but what happens next will be subject to further talks. He added that there were other details which had not been presented by the US prez while declining to go deep into them, “The outline that Prez Biden presented is partial,” said spokesman David Mencer quoting him. In another statement issued from his office, Netanyahu denied this claim by saying: “claims that we have agreed to a ceasefire without our conditions being met are incorrect”
Netanyahu’s comments cast doubt on Biden’s three stage peace plan which he claimed had been proposed by Israel. This suggestion called for a six-week truce within which Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged with Israeli hostages followed by an Israeli troop pullout and final cessation of fighting. Netayahu however quickly refrained from accepting these terms arguing that Hamas’ destruction remained their ultimate target. The Israeli PM faces pressure from right-wing allies who threatened they would leave his government if he ends the conflict without disbanding Hamas.
On Monday, party leaders national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the latest plan as did two far-right coalition partners of PM. Ben Gvir complained about the ‘white-washed’ proposal brought forward by Biden because it meant “the end of war without achieving the objective that was clearly set by members of cabinet – eliminating Hamas”. If Netanyahu says yes to “such irresponsible agreement”, then according to Ben Gvir, “we will break up the govt.” Smotrich argued: “If heaven forbid, government decides to adopt this proposal of surrender, we will not be part of it and we will act to replace the failed leadership with new leadership.”
The departure of right-wing lawmakers from the govt could lead to Netanyahu’s coalition collapsing. A centrist former PM, Yair Lapid, who is now in opposition said that the govt “can’t ignore Biden’s important speech”, assuring Netanyahu of his support if his far-right coalition partners leave. Lastly, Hamas on Friday said in a statement that it viewed Biden’s outline positively but has since then remained silent about any stalled negotiations while mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have not announced any new round of talks.
