Former Israeli chief of staff and internal adversary of Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, is in Washington these hours to meet with key leaders of the Biden administration. A trip seen as smoke and mirrors by Netanyahu himself, who, according to Israeli media, refused to give the green light for the departure of “his” minister and gave instructions to the Jewish state's embassy for Washington to refuse it. any type of support during his stay in the American capital. Netanyahu's fear, as is evident, is that the Biden administration, no longer hiding its irritation at the extremism and stupidity of the ruling government in Jerusalem, will open parallel channels of contact in sight, and may -be in the direction of his fall. Gantz, for his part, who entered the emergency war cabinet after October 7 but remains Netanyahu's main political opponent, was undaunted by Netanyahu's pressure and continued his international agenda. In fact, he has grown rich in the meantime. Yesterday, the leader of National Unity was received at the White House by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who, this weekend, “sealed” the change in American position with words never so clear. “The inhabitants of Gaza are dying of hunger, there must be an immediate ceasefire”, the “order” given to the stakeholders, starting with Israel, from a highly symbolic place like Selma, the Alabama city there is 59 years old from one of the harshest episodes of repression of anti-racist activists.
Official and “unofficial” conversations
According to the official report of the face-to-face meeting distributed by the White House, Harris reiterated to Gantz her “deep concern” for the humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as the recent tragedy of despair during a humanitarian aid shipment. The vice-president would then reiterate American pressure to reach as quickly as possible an agreement with Hamas likely to lead to the release of the hostages, while recognizing the “constructive” approach displayed in recent days by Israel in the diplomatic effort. As for Gantz, according to his account, he stuck to the official position of the Israeli government, reiterating “the imperative to accomplish the mission of eliminating the threat that Hamas poses to Israel by finding a lasting solution that ensures that humanitarian aid reaches civilians and not Hamas terrorists. » However, it is impossible to know what the two men said face to face beyond the official agenda: it is however entirely likely that they discussed the glimmers of a future change of government at Jerusalem, which both Gantz and Biden would like. to see as soon as possible.
Next stop London
Today, Gantz, who also met yesterday with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Biden's Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, then Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, will also be received by the Secretary of State. US State Antony Blinken and by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. A whirlwind of meetings worthy of a head of government of a major allied country. We now know that it will have an equally important sequel. Because after Washington, Gantz will also fly to London, where he will be received by Rishi Sunak's Foreign Minister, David Cameron. Will this be the last stop on his “anti-Netanyahu” tour?
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