After receiving criticism from the White House for complaining about arms deliveries related to the Gaza war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the White House directly on Thursday, saying he needed ammunition from the United States in “Israel’s war for survival.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AFP)
“Israel is prepared to face personal attacks if it receives from the United States the ammunition it needs in its war for survival,” he said in a statement.
The Israeli leader’s comments came after he angered Washington this week by issuing a video statement accusing Washington of “withholding arms and ammunition to Israel.”
U.S. officials have said they did not know what Netanyahu was referring to.
“Given the amount of assistance we have provided and continue to provide, these comments are extremely disappointing to us and certainly upsetting,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.
Washington said only one shipment of the 2,000-pound bomb was under consideration due to concerns it could be used in populated areas of Gaza.
Kirby also said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was scheduled to meet on Thursday with Israeli National Security Adviser Tzahi Hanegbi and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
Washington is Israel’s main military backer, but the White House has expressed frustration with the rising civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been waging a military operation against Hamas for more than eight months.
News / World News / Israel needs US ammunition in ‘war for survival’: Prime Minister Netanyahu
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