President Biden’s warning about suspending arms supplies has intensified the situation facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, as he is increasingly caught between international calls for a ceasefire and right-wing Israeli demands to proceed. with a full-scale invasion of Rafah. in southern Gaza.
Netanyahu, who has insisted despite American objections that invading Rafah is necessary, now finds the US-Israel relationship at a point of crisis that could affect how he conducts the next phase of the war. against Hamas.
On Thursday, the Israeli leader, alluding to Biden’s comments, said in a statement: “If we need to be alone, we will be alone. I have said that, if necessary, we will fight with our nails. But we have much more than nails and with that same strength of spirit, with the help of God, together we will win.”
As Biden threatens for the first time to withhold more American weapons, including heavy bombs and artillery shells, if Israel carries out a major operation in Rafah, a city packed with about a million Palestinians, analysts say the Israeli military is running the risk of losing control. support of its most important foreign arms supplier.
“The United States provides Israel with a steel dome; It is not just military support; it is strategic and political; it’s at the United Nations, the international court, etc.,” said Amos Gilead, a former senior Israeli defense official who worked closely with U.S. security officials for decades.
“If we lose America with President Biden’s incredible friendship, he will not be forgiven,” he added.
But Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesman, said Thursday that the army had enough “ammunition for its planned operations, including operations in Rafah.”
While Israel has enough weapons in its arsenals to carry out a full-scale invasion of Gaza City, US restrictions could force the Israeli military to reduce the deployment of specific munitions, experts said.
“We may have to economize how we use our weapons and strike more targets without precision bombs,” said Jacob Nagel, a former national security adviser.
Avi Dadon, a former procurement leader at Israel’s Defense Ministry, told Kan, the Israeli public broadcaster, that he “might be concerned” if American weapons were withheld. But at least outwardly, key members of Netanyahu’s government said the war effort would not be affected.
“I turn to Israel’s enemies, as well as our best friends, and say: the State of Israel cannot be subdued,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at a memorial ceremony, adding that the country would “do “as necessary” to defend its citizens and “to confront those who try to destroy us.”
Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right finance minister, declared that Israel would achieve a “complete victory” despite what he described as Biden’s “pushback and arms embargo.”