Daily Briefing June 21: Day 259 – What’s behind Netanyahu’s tiff with Washington?
US bureau chief Jacob Magid discusses DC trip of PM’s aides during latest kerfuffle with the White House, along with possible US sanctions against Smotrich and Tzav 9 group
Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.
Magid discusses the latest visit to the US by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, amid the current row between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US administration.
Hanegbi and Dermer were meeting with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and “received an earful” from US officials regarding the video that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made earlier in the week with accusations about the delay of US arms shipments to Israel.
Magid discusses whether Netanyahu is making comments now because Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is going to DC next week and perhaps doesn’t want him receiving the credit for solving any issues regarding arms during his trip.
Magid also talks about the ongoing US consideration to impose sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, given his longtime withholding of funds from the Palestinian Authority, destabilizing the Ramallah-based government.
Magid also looks at the possibility of US sanctions against the far-right Tzav 9 group, which has organized efforts to halt and wreak havoc with US aid convoys making their way into Gaza.
For more updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
US hosts PM’s aides amid concern full-on war with Hezbollah would overwhelm Iron Dome
US vexed, disappointed by Netanyahu claim of arms holdup: ‘No one has done more for him’
US sanctions far-right Israeli group behind attacks on aid convoys bound for Gaza
Is the US poised to sanction an Israeli minister for the first time?
THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas’s onslaught on Israel
THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown
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