Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid will visit Washington DC next week, according to Israeli media.
An anonymous source from Lapid's office said the focus of his visit would be “strengthening the strategic relationship between Israel and the United States, the return of the hostages, and Israel's role in the region.” era of israel on tuesday.
Lapid is a political opponent of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has criticized the Israeli government's response to the Oct. 7 Hamast terrorist attack and Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza.
Lapid said earlier this week that holding elections before the end of the war would be “not ideal” but stressed that “elections are necessary because this government will not budget or fix the budget.” [Haredi] Conscripts are not allowed to take home especially hostages. And you know what? Also, the war cannot be won because there is no world and no people of Israel. [fully united]”
He added that “this is an existential moment” for Israel. “Those who were supposed to keep our children safe failed to do so. …The soul of the nation is bleeding.”
Lapid said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)'s call for new Israeli elections in mid-April meant that Prime Minister Netanyahu had “lost Israel's biggest supporter in the United States.” “This is evidence of serious damage to the nation's efforts to win the war,” he said. And keep Israel safe. ”
On Monday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met virtually with Israeli officials, including National Security Adviser Tsashi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, in Rafah. We discussed Israel's intended strategy. More than 1 million Palestinian civilians have fled to Rafah due to the conflict, but Israel has not yet announced plans to keep them safe during the operation.
President Joe Biden continues to support Israel's war against Hamas, despite increasing criticism of Israel's actions. The US government continues to provide arms to Israel. But the rift between Biden and Netanyahu was evident throughout the war.
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The US president said the ground operation in Rafah was a “red line” for him, but insisted he had no intention of leaving Israel defenseless. After delivering the State of the Union address to Congress last month, Biden said he wanted to have a “come to Jesus” conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Benny Gantz, a top member of Israel's war cabinet, visited Washington in early March and met with U.S. officials, including Blinken, Sullivan, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Prime Minister Netanyahu was reportedly unhappy with Gantz's visit.
