Rapping Ben Gvir, PM thanks Biden for support, says he doesn’t ‘need help’ navigating US relationship
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at length on US-Israel ties at the cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, seemingly hitting back at comments by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir without naming him.
“We deeply appreciate the support we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of war,” he says, listing weapons shipments, support in international bodies and the deployment of US forces to the region.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t have disagreements, but so far we have managed to overcome them with determined and considered decisions,” he contends.
Netanyahu says there are those who say yes to every US demand and receive praise abroad while endangering Israel’s national security, and those who say no and receive praise at home while damaging Israel’s core interests.
“I want to say from my experience — the key is knowing how to navigate. To say yes when possible, to say no when necessary,” he says. “I don’t need help to know how to navigate our relationship with the US and the international community, while standing up for our national interests.”
“As a sovereign state fighting for its existence and future,” he continues, “we will make our decisions by ourselves, even in cases where there isn’t agreement with our American friends.”
Netanyahu also calls for a process to switch UNRWA with “other organizations that are not tainted by support for terrorism.”
