Latest news with #Israel-hamas
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials in Biden admin worked to undermine Netanyahu after ceasefire talks collapsed, former aide says
A new bombshell report on an Israeli TV news show revealed Biden officials discussed the idea of working to trigger an election with the hope of defeating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu so they could push the president's ceasefire deal. The plan was ultimately blocked by the president. One of the president's advisors on the region said that after the first ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war collapsed, the idea of working against Netanyahu started to circulate in President Joe Biden's administration, according to former White House officials interviewed on Israel's Channel 13 show "HaMakor." The idea floated was that Biden would give a speech directly to the Israeli public, presenting two options, according to his Middle East advisor Ilan Goldenberg. "A lot of people were talking about, including in the Oval Office at times, the idea of, like, the President going out and giving a speech. Benny Gantz (the opposition leader) was at 37 [seats] and Bibi was like at 15, right? Like, he was very weak. Joe Biden was still incredibly popular in Israel," he claimed. Biden Criticizes Netanyahu Over Israel-hamas War, Says Israeli Leader Making A 'Mistake' Goldenberg said, "The idea was that Biden would say you can end the war, get all the hostages out, get a deal that includes even, you know, maybe trying to have elements of Hamas leave — or you can keep doing what you're doing, and Israel will be in a Forever War. Your sons and daughters are going to keep fighting. Most of the hostages are going to come home dead. The idea would be either to force Netanyahu to come on board with that or scramble Israeli politics and see if you could trigger elections. That's what people were saying, like, 'let's just break this up because it's not going anywhere good.'" Read On The Fox News App However, Goldenberg said Biden blocked the move. "I think at the end of the day, he [Biden] was uncomfortable with the idea of going out that directly against Netanyahu." At a moment when U.S.-Israeli cooperation was vital, the deep mistrust and personal tensions between former President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu threatened to derail key diplomatic opportunities. The recent report featured insights from nine senior Biden administration officials and sheds light on the complexities that defined their interactions. Tom Nides, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, recalled how the president frequently clashed with Netanyahu's leadership. "Biden didn't really trust Netanyahu," Nides said. "Netanyahu, I mean, come on everybody, he's a survivor, a manipulator, you know, a magician when it comes to relationships. Biden saw all of that." Kamala Harris' Pick For Jewish Liaison Draws Criticism Over Israel, Iran Views: 'Red Flag' Before Oct. 7, tensions focused on Netanyahu's push for judicial reform, which sparked massive demonstrations and clashes among the Israeli public. "I was in the middle of all this… I had many a screaming match with Ron Dermer (Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs) about this," Nides said. Biden repeatedly urged Netanyahu to slow down and seek consensus, while anxieties rose over figures like far-right nationalist Minister Ben Gvir. "There were lots of anxieties over the issues around judicial reform, which I thought was insane," Nides said. The personal tension sometimes erupted publicly. When asked if Biden ever used harsh language for Netanyahu, Nides said, "President Biden likes to use colorful language, and on occasion, the prime minister was able to extract that colorful language from the president." He said Netanyahu questioning Biden's commitment to Israel particularly infuriated him. After Oct. 7, when Biden became the first sitting president to visit Israel during wartime, tensions deepened as Netanyahu rejected U.S. plans for Gaza's future. According to Michael Herzog, Israel's then-ambassador to Washington, Biden believed Netanyahu was aiding Trump politically, while Netanyahu suspected Biden of deliberately "walking on his head." The tension extended to hostage negotiations. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Hamas was reluctant to talk seriously for months. When asked if Netanyahu added conditions, he said, "I'm not saying that." Unlike their public statements, Arab leaders were quietly supporting Israel's efforts to defeat Hamas, Dan Shapiro, former deputy assistant secretary of Defense, revealed in the interview. "They said very clearly, please tell the Israelis they have our support to wipe out Hamas," he said. At the same time, while tensions with Netanyahu were growing, a major opportunity was slipping away. Amos Hochstein, former U.S. special envoy for International Energy Affairs, called Saudi Arabia "the most important Muslim country in the world," describing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a historic figure capable of reshaping the region. Herzog, Israel's former ambassador to Washington, confirmed that serious discussions had taken place about advancing normalization during the transition period before Trump could return to office. "Biden would bring Democrats, and Trump would bring Republicans," Herzog explained, but said that Trump preferred to wait, not wanting to share the achievement. "I believe it will happen, I just don't know when," Herzog said. Fox News Digital sent questions to former President Biden's spokesperson for article source: Officials in Biden admin worked to undermine Netanyahu after ceasefire talks collapsed, former aide says
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu shows picture of Bibas family at combat officers' graduation: ‘Remember what we are fighting for'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu displayed images of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, during an address at a combat officers' graduation ceremony on Sunday, delivering a solemn message. "I want to show you something. I want to show you this picture of Shiri Bibas and her tender children, Ariel and Kfir Bivas. This picture says it all; I ask that you engrave it on the board of your hearts, so that you will always remember what we are fighting for and against whom we are fighting," Netanyahu told the graduates, according to Fox News' translation of the Hebrew speech. "We are fighting to secure our existence against man-monsters who have risen to annihilate us." "Already in the first days of the war, they murdered Shiri and her children in cold blood; they strangled the tender children with their own hands," Netanyahu said, holding up a photo of the Bibas family. "And if they could, they would have killed us all with the same cruelty, until our very last man. Against this we fight, and these monsters we must and can defeat – and defeat them we will. This is our mission, and this is your mission!" "As the defenders of our homeland, each of you is imbued with purpose, wielding sword and shield," he added. "We have high expectations of you, but I know that above all, you have expectations of yourselves." Trump Envoy Witkoff Seeking 'Extension' Of Phase 1 Of Israel-hamas Ceasefire Deal, To Head Back To Middle East Hamas handed over the bodies of the two young brothers on Thursday, but initially returned the wrong remains for Shiri in what Netanyahu had decried as a "brazen violation of their agreement." The Israeli mother's actual remains were handed over on Saturday and identified by Israeli forensic authorities to be Shiri following a standoff with the terrorist group. Also returned was the body of Oded Lifshitz, a fellow resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and who Israel says was murdered in captivity. The Israel Defense Forces said the boys' bodies proved they were "murdered by terrorists in cold blood," despite Hamas previously claiming the brothers were killed in an airstrike. Read On The Fox News App In his speech Sunday, Netanyahu said President Donald Trump "sees eye to eye with us on everything related to Gaza." "We support President Trump's groundbreaking plan to allow free exit for Gazans, and to create a different Gaza," Netanyahu told the graduating combat officers. "I thank President Trump for his directive to supply Israel with vital weapons," Netanyahu said. "The new defensive and offensive arms will greatly aid us in achieving absolute victory. At the same time, we have approved enormous budgets for the domestic development of weapon systems – systems that will enhance our ability to stand up to our enemies on our own." Israel Delays Palestinian Prisoner Release After Hamas' 'Humiliating' Treatment Of Hostages, Netanyahu Says The prime minister also laid out his government's objectives. Netanyahu said Israeli forces "have eliminated most of Hamas's organized strength" in Gaza. "But let there be no doubt: we will complete the war objectives, including this one, to the very end," he said. "It can be achieved through negotiation, and it can also be achieved by other means. From the start of the war, the conditions we set for its conclusion were clear – and they remain clear. All of our abductees, without exception, will return home. Hamas will not govern Gaza. Gaza will be purged, and its combat capability will be dismantled." Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said he plans to return to the region on Wednesday to negotiate an "extension" of Phase One of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. Phase Two, Witkoff noted, includes ensuring Hamas will never return to government leadership in Gaza, which he predicts will not be a safe living environment for another 15 to 20 years and will require a lengthy reconstruction plan. Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this article source: Netanyahu shows picture of Bibas family at combat officers' graduation: 'Remember what we are fighting for'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Massachusetts teachers' union disavows 'offensive images' after being accused of spreading antisemitism
The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) is removing links to websites with controversial materials after being accused of spreading antisemitism. A local hearing became a national news story as MTA president Max Page was grilled over the union sharing educational resources that contained offensive images criticizing Israel. The images included a dollar bill folded into a Star of David alongside criticism of foreign aid to Israel, a poster showing what appears to be an armed Palestinian with the words "What was taken by force can only be returned by force," and a children's book referring to Zionists as a "group of bullies." Gov. Maura Healey spoke about the controversy directly, saying, "The images on the Massachusetts Teachers Association website were antisemitic, offensive and never should have been shared in the first place. I spoke to MTA leadership about my concerns and am glad they will be removing the images — that should be done immediately." She added, "I understand the importance of making sure teachers and educators have guidance for how to discuss this complex issue. That's why it was important for these images to be removed so that everyone can come together to determine how to accurately and appropriately address this topic moving forward. I want to thank the members of Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism for their commitment and dedication on this issue, and that important work continues." Outraged Staff, Parents Slam Minnesota Teachers Union's 'Antisemitic, Hostile Stance On Israel-hamas War' Read On The Fox News App Page and union vice president Deb McCarthy responded with a public statement, declaring the MTA "defends the right of all students and teachers to feel supported and included in our classrooms and unequivocally condemns antisemitism and Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred and discrimination." The Massachusetts-based union leaders claimed that their members-only website had a wide variety of resources to explain the historically complex conflict in the Middle East, "and includes materials from the Anti-Defamation League, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Facing History and Ourselves, the New York Times, the NEA, and many other respected sources." They also pushed back against some of their critics, specifying that controversial images discussed at the recent hearing were never displayed directly on the members-only website. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "As trusted educators, MTA members would never want to have antisemitic materials on the MTA website, and the MTA does not promote materials that direct hate at any group. We will remove any materials that do not further the cause of promoting understanding," the union leaders wrote. "Images displayed at a Feb. 10 hearing by the Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism are not posted on the MTA's website, but rather on outside websites, which are linked to the resources page. The links to the sites containing those offensive images will be removed." The local ADL chapter in New England praised the MTA's decision as a "welcome first step." "The @Massteacher decision to remove harmful content from its list of curricular resources is a welcome first step toward restoring confidence," the local branch of the ADL said on X. "In light of the significant problems highlighted at last week's commission hearing about specific antisemitic resources and the biased nature of the list, we urge @Massteacher to take affirmative steps to objectively vet its resources for bias and pedagogical soundness and make any future version of this list public for full transparency."Original article source: Massachusetts teachers' union disavows 'offensive images' after being accused of spreading antisemitism
