Tel Aviv, Monday – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Tel Aviv today, embarking on a diplomatic mission to address the growing discord between the United States and Israel. The visit, taking place against the backdrop of increasing civilian casualties in Gaza, is marked by tensions between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Austin was welcomed by Israel’s director of the policy bureau, Dror Shalom, charge d’affaires Stephanie Hallet, and Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Scheduled to meet with Israeli government officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin aims to gain insights into Israel’s security establishment’s assessment of the situation in Gaza.
The diplomatic delicacy of Austin’s mission arises from recent public disputes between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Biden, addressing Democratic donors in Washington last week, expressed concerns about Israel’s diminishing international support due to civilian casualties in Gaza. He urged Netanyahu to consider altering his approach, characterizing the current Israeli government as the “most conservative government in Israel’s history.”
In response, Netanyahu rejected American post-war plans for Gaza, admitting disagreement with President Biden on the future of the region. Biden, during the fundraiser, indicated that the Israeli government does not support a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to escalate, with at least 110 people reported killed and dozens more injured in Israeli attacks on Jabalya in northern Gaza over the past 24 hours. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza disclosed the casualties, stating that the majority are women and children. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insisted on adhering to international law and accused Hamas of intentionally placing military targets within the civilian population.
The gravity of the situation underscores the urgency of Secretary Austin’s mission, as he seeks to navigate the delicate diplomatic terrain and foster understanding between the U.S. and Israel amid the ongoing crisis in the region.