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What Netanyahu thinks about Gaza and Biden’s response to the war
Happy Friday morning.
JERUSALEM — In roughly one month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come to Washington to address a joint meeting of Congress. Israel is locked in a bloody war against Hamas in Gaza, on the brink of a possible conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and still reeling from both Iran’s aerial assault and the Oct. 7 terror attack. There are still more than 100 hostages held by Hamas militants.
The upcoming July 24 address in the House chamber will be one of the most contentious in recent American history. Some Democrats call Netanyahu a war criminal. Republicans revere him. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Netanyahu to step aside.
It’s against this backdrop that we went to Jerusalem to interview Netanyahu on Thursday. We discussed a wide range of issues with the longtime Israeli premier, including Netanyahu’s sharp disagreements with President Joe Biden, his views on Congress, pro-Palestinian protests in the United States and the wave of civilian deaths in Gaza during the nearly nine-month war.
Netanyahu’s remarks and his visit to Washington need to be viewed through the lens of the tense political moment in Israel. Netanyahu is facing unprecedented domestic turmoil. His upcoming U.S. trip and his tough talk toward Biden could help him win support here, although there’s been a fierce backlash from the White House.
Read the full transcript here.
The Biden administration. Netanyahu caused a lot of consternation in Washington this week when he posted a video on X saying that it was “inconceivable” that the Biden administration had held up weapons shipments to Israel. Top administration officials, including NSC spokesperson John Kirby, strongly deny the accusation.
The White House canceled a high-level meeting with their Israeli counterparts on Iran to show their displeasure. Biden has said he’s only held back the delivery of heavy bombs even as his administration has approved billions of dollars worth of weapons sales to Israel during the Gaza war.
Pro-Israel Democrats also were upset, saying that Netanyahu should keep his disagreements with the president private. They accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into a partisan issue by his open support for Republicans.
But Netanyahu didn’t entirely back down. Netanyahu said he’s grateful for the support from the White House but the only way for Israel to avoid a full-scale war with Hezbollah is if the U.S. re-starts all weapons shipments:
“I deeply appreciate the support given by President Biden and the United States administration for our war effort from the beginning. President Biden came here, he sent two carrier groups and he gave us valuable assistance and ammunition and weapons from the beginning of the war. I appreciate that and I remain appreciative.
“We began to see that we had some significant problems emerging a few months ago. And in fact, we tried, in many, many quiet conversations between our officials and American officials, in between me and the president to try to iron out … And we haven’t been able to solve it. Now this is crucial. It’s crucial for our common war aims, to defeat Hamas and to prevent an escalation in Lebanon to a full-fledged war to have this supply.
“I raised this issue with Secretary Blinken. And I said that we are being told by our Defense Department officials that barely a trickle is coming in. He said, ‘Well, everything is in process. We’re doing everything to untangle it and to clear up the bottlenecks.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s what I expect to happen. Let’s make sure that it does happen.’ It must happen. …
“I felt that airing it was absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversations that did not solve the problem.”
White House aides pointed to Kirby’s comments in response to Netanyahu.
The outstanding question here is whether Netanyahu — and Israel more broadly — is ready for a war with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia ramping up its hostilities in southern Lebanon, including attacks on Israel. Or whether Netanyahu is seeking to involve Biden by blaming him for any war in Lebanon.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, warned Israel about a broad-scale war Thursday.
We asked Netanyahu if he felt like the Biden administration wanted to solve the weapon problem. His response: “I think it could be solved instantaneously with goodwill — it could be solved right away.” That wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement to us.
How long will Israel fight in Gaza? One of the main questions we get from lawmakers in both parties is just how long will Israel’s war in Gaza last. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died, while Hamas is still holding more than 100 hostages, including Americans. Netanyahu said if he had the weapons he wants from the United States, Israel would be able to stop the fighting much sooner:
“Hezbollah and Iran are perfectly aware of the fact that there have been stoppages. They interpret this as some kind of a breach between Israel and the United States. And the only way to end this is to come out and speak openly and let this be corrected as soon as possible.
“It’s not in order to continue the war indefinitely. It’s to one: win the war on Gaza speedily. And second, prevent a war on the Lebanese front.”
U.S. officials, including Biden, question whether Netanyahu has prolonged the war to benefit himself politically.
Civilian casualties in Gaza. Since the beginning of Israel’s incursion into Gaza, more than 37,000 Palestinians have died, according to Palestinian authorities. Aid workers, women and children have all been killed by the IDF. Netanyahu said Israel has “gone out of its way” to avoid civilian casualties and suggested the criticism “resembles the blood libel that was leveled at the Jewish people throughout the Middle Ages and modern times.”
Netanyahu maintains that just a few dozen civilians were killed in Rafah, attempting to undercut the U.S. assertion that any military incursion would be dangerous for hundreds of thousands of Gazans who’ve fled there. Netanyahu also said that the civilian-to-combatant death ratio is roughly one to one.
This isn’t a remark that will please Democrats on Capitol Hill.
— Jake Sherman
June Events! Next week, join Punchbowl News on Thursday, June 27 at 9 a.m. ET for a conversation with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) about his bipartisan work as co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Punchbowl News founder and CEO Anna Palmer will sit down with Gottheimer to discuss news of the day and bipartisanship in the 118th Congress. RSVP!
PRESENTED BY GOLDMAN SACHS ONE MILLION BLACK WOMEN
Black women are pursuing entrepreneurship to help drive economic opportunity for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Through increased access to capital and other resources for small business owners and sole proprietors, policy makers can help empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
WASHINGTON X THE WORLD
Netanyahu on Schumer, Congress and anti-Israel protests in the US
JERUSALEM — One of the more intense moments on Capitol Hill this year was when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — the most senior Jewish lawmaker in U.S. history — took to the Senate floor to ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
Netanyahu has a long relationship with Schumer. And Schumer has said, effectively, that it was his moral obligation to try to force Netanyahu out.
Netanyahu clearly wasn’t pleased by Schumer’s remarks.
“Well, I think that democratic countries should not interfere with the democratic processes of other countries. And I think that that’s a rule that I’ve tried to accord, to live by. But I can’t say that others have abided equally to us. It’s wrong to do that. It shouldn’t be done.”
Netanyahu’s speech to Congress and his view on the protests. Since 2015, when Netanyahu aligned with Hill Republicans and sought to prevent former President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, the Israeli premier has been tied closely with the GOP. This is a feeling shared by many in Israel and across the U.S. political landscape.
We told Netanyahu that he may find himself speaking to a room predominantly composed of Republicans on July 24 when he comes to Capitol Hill.
Netanyahu is clearly sensitive to this criticism. Netanyahu insisted that he’s “not a partisan. I’m not a Republican or a Democrat. I’m an Israeli patriot, and I speak on behalf of the Israeli people.”
Netanyahu said that polling in the U.S. shows that 80% of Americans support Israel and 20% support Hamas. Netanyahu seemed to be referring to a Harvard CAPS-Harris survey from April.
The prime minister, however, is clearly quite attuned to the wave of protests in the United States, which he said is akin to supporting “killers.”
“You have ‘Gays for Gaza.’ That’s an absurdity if I’ve ever heard one. If you are gay in Gaza, you’ll be shot in the back of the head. ‘Women for Gaza.’ What are women in Gaza? They’re chattel and other such absurdities.
“But nevertheless, they [protesters] are there. And I hope they don’t control American politics. I intend to speak to the broad spectrum of the American people and to cull bipartisan support that is still solid in America and we need it to stay solid.”
Yet the pro-Palestinian protests are a major problem for Biden and other top Democrats. The president and other senior Democrats can barely get through any public events without protesters interrupting their remarks. Biden’s support among younger voters — a key 2020 constituency — has also dropped precipitously.
The day after in Gaza. One thing we’ve heard from many on Capitol Hill is that Netanyahu has no plan for after the war in Gaza ends. The Israeli government has not said much — or anything at all — about its plans for the strip after the war.
We asked Netanyahu how he thinks about governing Gaza after the war ends:
“I think we’re going to have to have sustained demilitarization which can only be done by Israel against any resurgent terrorist effort. But I think there has to be a civilian administration to administer not only the distribution of humanitarian aid but also civil administration. That has to be done, I think best done, with the cooperation of an inter-Arab sponsorship and assistance by Arab countries.
“And then the third thing would be obviously some kind of deradicalization process that would begin in the schools and the mosques to teach these people a different future than the one of annihilating in Israel and killing every Jew on the planet. And the fourth, it would be reconstruction, which would be largely taken, I think, by the international community.”
We will, of course, be covering Netanyahu’s trip to D.C. and the reaction on Capitol Hill.
— Jake Sherman
Weekday mornings, The Daily Punch brings you inside Capitol Hill, the White House, and Washington.
Listen NowInside the top ads in the Bowman-Latimer race
The Democratic primary in New York’s 16th District between Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and George Latimer is officially the priciest House primary campaign of all time. Here’s a breakdown of the top three ads playing on the district’s airwaves ahead of the Tuesday primary, thanks to analysis from our friends at AdImpact.
No surprise: Given the $14 million-plus that AIPAC’s super PAC has poured into the race, the United Democracy Project is behind the top three ads.
#1: United Democracy Project ad: “Progressive Results.” Total spend: $3.2 million.
AIPAC’s super PAC is by far the top spender in the race. The group’s biggest spend is in this positive ad that hails Latimer’s results as the executive of Westchester County. The spot touts Latimer’s work on infrastructure, gun control and abortion rights.
“George Latimer is putting people ahead of personal agendas and delivering real progressive results,” the ad’s narrator says.
#2: United Democracy Project ad: “His Own Agenda.” Total spend: $2.8 million.
UDP’s second-biggest spend is on an attack ad slamming Bowman as a self-interested politician who is at odds with President Joe Biden.
The ad highlights Bowman’s votes against both the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law and the debt-limit deal. Bowman has said his infrastructure vote was a tactical one to make sure the full Build Back Better plan also advanced.
“Jamaal Bowman has his own agenda and he’s hurting New York,” the narrator concludes.
#3: United Democracy Project ad: “Attacks.” Total spend: $2.6 million.
The UDP ad with the third most money behind it again hits Bowman for his differences with Biden. The spot features the infrastructure and debt-limit votes. The ad also flags an instance where Bowman accused Biden of lying by not pushing police reform through Congress.
Bowman’s response: The most the Bowman camp has spent on a single ad is $500,000 on a spot called “Making Progress Together.”
In the ad, a constituent blasts Latimer for receiving money from “Donald Trump’s mega-donors.” Bowman says that his lived experience in public housing and underfunded schools motivated him to fight for progress in D.C.
And don’t miss: Every Friday morning, we’ll be bringing you special election-focused coverage as only Punchbowl News can. Keep up with all of our Election 2024 coverage here.
— Max Cohen
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Black women entrepreneurs need continued support from Washington in order to grow and sustain their businesses.
THE CAMPAIGN
News: Vasquez releases first TV ad of cycle
News: Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) is releasing his campaign’s first ad of the cycle in a five-figure buy that focuses on abortion rights.
Vasquez is running against former Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), who he beat in 2022. The spot plays old footage of Herrell saying that she wished New Mexico could have eliminated all abortion in the state.
Vasquez then speaks direct-to-camera and pledges to always protect a woman’s right to an abortion.
New Mexico’s 2nd District is shaping up to be one of the most important House races in November. The GOP establishment is firmly behind Herrell’s comeback bid in a seat that’s changed hands multiple times during the past few cycles.
Vasquez’s ad is a sign that Democrats are planning to continue to hammer Republicans on the issue of reproductive rights.
Ohio news: The Ohio Democratic Party is lauding an ad buy on Facebook highlighting GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno’s anti-abortion rights stance. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and his allies are also going to make abortion a top issue in his competitive reelection race.
— Max Cohen
AND THERE’S MORE…
Cyrus Artz, the staff director for the Education and the Workforce Committee, is joining Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. He’ll have responsibility for the Ed and Workforce portfolio and take on Science, Space and Technology and Small Business. Artz will have a special emphasis on Johnson’s work on the AI Task Force.
Downtown: Grindr, the LGBTQ dating app, has signed up its first lobbying representation, the Daschle Group. Joe Hack will lead the partnership for the firm, which will focus on global LGBTQ issues and the app’s social initiative, Grindr for Equality. Hack, who was chief of staff for Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), was the first openly gay Republican Senate chief.
— Jake Sherman
PRESENTED BY GOLDMAN SACHS ONE MILLION BLACK WOMEN
Policy makers can help Black women-owned businesses continue to thrive.
MOMENTS
ALL TIMES EASTERN
9 a.m.
The House will meet in a pro forma session.
10 a.m.
President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.
CLIPS
NYT
“Trump Has Rapidly Eroded Biden’s Edge in 2024 Cash Battle”
– Shane Goldmacher and Theodore Schleifer
NYT
“Timothy Mellon, Secretive Donor, Gives $50 Million to Pro-Trump Group”
– Shane Goldmacher and Theodore Schleifer
WaPo
“Mike Bloomberg gives $20 million to help Biden beat Trump”
– Michael Scherer and Tyler Pager
WaPo
“Trump pledges green cards for college grads, reviving a Hillary Clinton idea”
– Issac Arnsdorf
AP
“South Korea summons Russian ambassador as tensions rise with North Korea”
– Kim Tong-Hyung in Seoul, South Korea
Politico
“Appeals court denies Bannon bid to stave off July 1 jail sentence”
– Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein
PRESENTED BY GOLDMAN SACHS ONE MILLION BLACK WOMEN
“Black women are starting businesses faster than any other demographic in our country. But these job creators need the know-how and resources to grow and scale. OMBW: Black in Business is part of the solution, but we also need policy solutions that will further invest in the economic power of Black women entrepreneurs.”
— Asahi Pompey, Global Head of Corporate Engagement at Goldman Sachs
Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. Political ads courtesy of AdImpact.
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