White House insists Lebanon truce was ‘coordinated’ with Israel, despite later being rejected by Jerusalem

All but confirming reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu burned the Biden administration after privately embracing its effort for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon only to come out against the initiative after it was announced, White House press secretary Jean Karine-Pierre tells reporters that the joint statement led by the US announcing the effort last night “was coordinated with the Israeli side.”

After a senior Western diplomat told The Times of Israel that Netanyahu privately gave his support for the 21-day ceasefire initiative, the premier’s office is now claiming that he only saw the proposal and did not approve it. The Western diplomat says Netanyahu and his aides were closely involved in crafting and approving the text of the joint statement, which is aimed at providing time for both a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza and an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that sees the terror group withdraw its forces away from the border.

“Our joint statement was a clear call … for a temporary ceasefire to open up space… for diplomacy to achieve a deal that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes safely and securely,” Jean-Pierre says.