Israel needs US weapons in ‘war for its existence,’ says Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that his country needs American weapons in a “war for its existence,” in a direct response to the White House’s criticism of its complaints about the delay in delivering arms shipments.
Netanyahu said in a statement: “I am prepared to endure personal attacks on the condition that Israel receives from the United States the weapons it needs in a war (which it is waging) for its existence,” according to Agence France-Presse.
The White House expressed its extreme disappointment at the criticism directed at the United States by the Israeli Prime Minister amid tensions between the two allies regarding Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. The White House considered Netanyahu’s statements this week regarding the delay in the delivery of US arms shipments to his country “insulting.”
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “Those statements were extremely disappointing and certainly insulting to us. Given the amount of support we provide and will continue to provide.”
Kirby added: The least that can be said is that it is certainly confusing and disappointing, especially since no other country helps Israel more than us in defending itself from the threat (Hamas). On Tuesday, Netanyahu posted a video clip in English in which he said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had assured him that President Joe Biden’s administration was working to lift restrictions on the delivery of weapons to Israel, something that Blinken refused to confirm.
In a rare revelation of high-level private diplomatic talks, Netanyahu also said he told Blinken that it was “unreasonable” for (Washington) to “withhold weapons and ammunition” from Israel over the past few months.
