U.S. Official Criticizes Netanyahu's "Maximalist" Stance
Reversing previous remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a top U.S. government source has accused him of producing “maximalist statements” that are “not constructive to get a ceasefire deal across the finish line.” The criticism arises from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s vital round of regional diplomacy meant to forward a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Blink en's Diplomatic Efforts and Bridging Proposal
Secretary Blinken met Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem for three hours Monday. After the talks, Blinken said Netanyahu had embraced Washington’s “bridging proposal,” which was meant to solve issues and push Israel and Hamas closer to an accord.
Later on, though, it was revealed that Netanyahu had assured a gathering of hostages’ families that he “convinced” Blinken that the agreement should let Israeli troops stay in areas of Gaza Netanyahu described as “strategic military and political assets,” including along the southern border with Egypt. These remarks irritate the U.S. government.
U.S. Pushback and Concerns
A senior U.S. official addressed the matter anonymously, saying, “We observed the Prime Minister’s statements, especially on some of these topics. Though we will not negotiate publicly, Secretary Blinken and the United States are solely persuaded of the necessity of bringing a ceasefire plan past the finish line.
The person said, “We fully expect that… if Hamas were also to accept this bridging idea, conversations on some of the more technical elements will continue. Furthermore, maximalist remarks such as this are counterproductive for reaching a ceasefire agreement across the line and jeopardize the capacity of level, working level, and technical talks to be able to move forward when both sides agree to a bridging proposal.”
Diplomatic Developments and Regional Reactions
These comments originated from a meeting in El-Alamein between Blinken and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egyptian officials are against the notion of Israeli soldiers staying near Egypt’s Gaza border. Following his trip to Egypt, Blinken visited Qatar for more talks in Doha—the last destination on his Middle East trip.
Blinken disclosed that the American bridging proposal contained a “detailed plan” on the Israeli pull from Gaza. “Israel has agreed to that; the agreement is rather clear on the schedule and sites of IDF [Israel Defense Forces] withdrawals from Gaza,” Blinken added.
Regarding Netanyahu’s alleged remark that Blinken had “convinced” him to keep a military presence in Gaza, Blinken answered, “I can’t speak to what he’s reported as saying; I can just speak to what I heard from him directly when we spent three hours together.” That included Israel’s support of the bridging idea and, thus, the comprehensive scheme. And that strategy, among other things, features exact withdrawal locations and timelines.
Hamas's Rejection of New Proposals
Claiming them as “a coup” against accords reached in past discussions, Hamas has attacked the most recent ceasefire offers. The group has again underlined its inclination for a ceasefire based on the situation of July instead of the fresh rounds of discussions proposed by the present proposals.
