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Report: Biden Meddles in Israeli Politics During War; Seeks Netanyahu Replacement

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President Joe Biden is trying to pick a successor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a new report citing White House sources — and he is doing so despite the fact that Israel is at war against the Hamas terrorist organization. . .

But a Politico report — based on leaks, perhaps, by sources who want to damage Netanyahu — suggests that the White House is trying to swap Israeli leaders in the middle of the war:

Joe Biden and top aides have discussed the likelihood that Benjamin Netanyahu’s political days are numbered — and the president has conveyed that sentiment to the Israeli prime minister in a recent conversation.

The topic of Netanyahu’s short political shelf life has come up in recent White House meetings involving Biden, according to two senior administration officials. That has included discussions that have taken place since Biden’s trip to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu.

…

With an eye toward the future, U.S. officials are talking to Benny Gantz, a member of the current unity government; Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister; and Yair Lapid, an opposition leader and former prime minister, among other Israeli figures, the former official said.

(Read more from “Report: Biden Meddles in Israeli Politics During War; Seeks Netanyahu Replacement” HERE)

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Netanyahu Says Israel Has Moved Into ‘Second Stage’ of War, Adds ‘We Will Be the Victors’

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Jewish state during a Saturday address that the military has moved into a “second stage” of the ongoing war against Hamas, which reportedly includes mobilizing ground forces into Gaza.

The Israeli leader noted that the conflict is a fight for the survival of the country, adding that the war would only get more intense once the ground invasion of the territory sets in, according to the Associated Press.

Israel’s invasion into Gaza comes after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on the Jewish state on October 7, where hundreds of Jews were slaughtered and many more were abducted, raped, and tortured.

Netanyahu said that “[t]here are moments in which a nation faces two possibilities: to do or die.” He went on to suggest that the country now faces “that test and I have no doubt how it will end: We will be the victors. We will do and we will be the victors.”

Netanyahu went on to suggest that the current conflict is the “second War of Independence,” adding that the Jewish state is “only at the beginning.” The Israeli leader’s comments were followed up by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s own comments, stating that “[t]his will not be a short war,” according to the Wall Street Journal. (Read more from “Netanyahu Says Israel Has Moved Into ‘Second Stage’ of War, Adds ‘We Will Be the Victors’” HERE)

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White House Vows ‘Tough Questions’ for Netanyahu

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John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters aboard Air Force Once en route to Israel on Tuesday evening that President Joe Biden would have “tough questions” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when they met Wednesday morning.

Biden’s trip was intended to show solidarity for Israel in its war against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which attacked Israel without provocation Oct. 7 and murdered 1,400 peoople.

But after Palestinians — and their allies — blamed Israel for an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City that reportedly killed hundreds of people, Biden appeared to be taking a different stance, promising that U.S. officials would investigate. Notably, Kirby refused to say that the U.S. gave Israeli officials the benefit of the doubt when they categorically denied that Israel had anything to do with the explosion. (Israel blamed the explosion on a misfired rocket, aimed at Israeli civilians, fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.) Kirby also dodged questions about whether the White House believed Israel was living up to its promise to obey international law.

Later in the press briefing, Kirby explained that “tough questions” did not mean “menacing,” but that the U.S. would ask Israel about its next steps in the war. (Last week, Biden had said that Israel had not only a “right,” but also a “duty,” to fight Hamas.) (Read more from “White House Vows ‘Tough Questions’ for Netanyahu” HERE)

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WATCH: Biden Makes Sign of the Cross in Bizarre Moment With Israeli PM Netanyahu

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President Biden unexpectedly crossed himself Wednesday during a one-on-one meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in Midtown.

The 80-year-old Roman Catholic president made the conspicuous hand gesture — touching his forehead, stomach and left and right breast area with his right hand — as the Jewish leader began speaking.

“We’ve been friends for, I’ve checked it, over 40 years,” Netanyahu said, prompting Biden to make the sign of the cross in a possible joke about his own age.

However, the president did not explain his action and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The sign of the cross dates to early Christianity and is often used as a self-blessing during prayer. (Read more from “WATCH: Biden Makes Sign of the Cross in Bizarre Moment With Israeli PM Netanyahu” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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Netanyahu Poised for Comeback in Israel Election, Exit Polls Show

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared well placed to return to power after exit polls following Tuesday’s election showed his right-wing bloc heading for a narrow majority lifted by a strong showing from his far-right allies.

Israel’s longest-serving premier, on trial over corruption charges which he denies, was poised to take 61-62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, according to Israeli television exit polls.

The early exit polls may differ from the final result of the election, which is not expected until later in the week but the results pointed to a stronger-than-expected showing by the right.

Israel’s fifth election in less than four years exasperated many Israeli voters. (Read more from “Netanyahu Poised for Comeback in Israel Election, Exit Polls Show” HERE)

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Benjamin Netanyahu Ousted as Israeli PM

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Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest serving Israeli leader, was ousted as prime minister on Sunday after the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, voted to form a new government made up of a coalition of opposition groups pledging to heal caustic divisions caused by Netanyahu’s 12-year rule.

Netanyahu had failed to form a government after a March 23 election — the fourth in two years — and could not block the power-sharing agreement between the groups, headed by his former defense minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Bennett and Lapid will each serve two years as prime minister on a rotating basis. (Read more from “Benjamin Netanyahu Ousted as Israeli PM” HERE)

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Netanyahu’s Opposition Rivals Warn of Civil War in Israel

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Israeli opposition leaders said they have received death threats in response to their plan to form a government that would oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a backlash that has raised the specter of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

“This is the time for all public leaders to come out in an unequivocal call against every threat, whatever the democratic decisions are,” said Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, per the Times of Israel. “We all need to respect them and avoid sparking a dispute — let alone, God forbid, a civil war.”

Right-wing politician Naftali Bennett’s announcement Sunday that he planned to deliver the necessary votes to form a government with center-left opposition leader Yair Lapid sparked an uproar in Israel. Netanyahu accused him of making a self-interested play for the prime minister’s office at the expense of Israeli security, but the opposition leaders denounced Netanyahu with thinly veiled references to allegations that he was responsible for Rabin’s death at the hands of a right-wing extremist who opposed the Oslo Accords.

“That fact that elected officials are being threatened over taking part in democratic processes raises a great concern that we have not learned the lesson, neither from the Jewish history of baseless hatred nor from the murder of Rabin,” Gantz said. (Read more from “Netanyahu’s Opposition Rivals Warn of Civil War in Israel” HERE)

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Netanyahu Publicly Rebuffs U.S. Efforts To Re-Enter Iran Nuclear Deal

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rebuffed U.S. efforts to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal during remarks in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

President Joe Biden wants to revive the deal canceled by former President Donald Trump three years ago despite pushback from both parties, Politico previously reported. The deal, officially dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was brokered by former President Barack Obama in 2015 when Biden served as vice president.

Netanyahu pushed back on the Biden administration’s recent efforts and expressed his hope that the U.S. would forgo its plans. The prime minister voiced concern for the implications of Iran having “an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy.”

“The second point is – naturally, is Iran. We discussed many regional issues, but none is greater than Iran. And I can tell you that I hope that the United States will not go back to the old JCPOA because we believe that that deal paves the way for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy,” Netanyahu said during the joint press event. (Read more from “Netanyahu Publicly Rebuffs U.S. Efforts To Re-Enter Iran Nuclear Deal” HERE)

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WATCH: Netanyahu Says No to Biden’s Call for Ceasefire

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Netanyahu says he is “determined” to continue operations against Hamas until Israeli’s goal is met.

President Joe Biden is calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “de-escalate” with Hamas terrorists in Gaza as the Iranian backed organization continues its attacks on innocent civilians.

“President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today. The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States. The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” the White House released about a call between Biden and Netanyahu Wednesday morning.

(Read more from “WATCH: Netanyahu Says No to Biden’s Call for Ceasefire” HERE)

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Israel’s Netanyahu Wins Ruling Party Leadership Vote

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Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “huge” victory Friday, after winning a leadership primary that ensures he will lead his right-wing Likud party into March elections.

Israel’s longest-serving premier, who faces a corruption indictment and a third general election in twelve months, was expected to beat rival Gideon Saar but the convincing margin of victory strengthened his position in the party he has dominated for 20 years.

With all votes counted, Likud announced early Friday that Netanyahu had secured 72.5 percent, with Saar winning 27.5 percent. . .

Netanyahu held multiple campaign events a day in different parts of the country, while on Thursday his Facebook page broadcast live video of him phoning supporters.

In the campaign’s most dramatic moment on Wednesday, Netanyahu was rushed off stage at a rally in Ashkelon in southern Israel after a rocket was fired from the nearby Palestinian enclave of Gaza. (Read more from “Israel’s Netanyahu Wins Ruling Party Leadership Vote” HERE)

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