Netanyahu calls US Israel’s ‘irreplaceable ally’ a week after announcing China trip
At US embassy’s July 4th event, PM, who has yet to receive White House invite, thanks Washington for its backing; outgoing envoy Nides hails premier’s commitment to Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feted the United States as Israel’s “irreplaceable and indispensable ally” at an event ahead of America’s Independence Day, even as his administration plans a trip to US rival China, amid frustration over the White House’s stance toward Jerusalem.
While the prime minister has long hailed the importance of the US-Israel relationship, his remarks at the US embassy’s July 4th party in Jerusalem gained elevated importance, as ties between the two countries have come under particular strain since Netanyahu returned to power six months ago.
US President Joe Biden has held off on inviting Netanyahu to the White House given Washington’s displeasure with the Israeli government’s effort to radically overhaul the judiciary and it also summoned Jerusalem’s envoy in DC for a dressing down over Israel’s policies in the West Bank that have damaged prospects for a two-state solution.
But Israeli and US leaders sought to downplay the rift at the American Independence Day event at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum, where some 2,000 were said to be in attendance.
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, who will be stepping down from his post next week after 19 months, took the opportunity to praise Netanyahu personally. “Your commitment and love for the State of Israel should always, always be commended.”
Nides appeared even more effusive about Herzog and his wife Michal, thanking the pair for their friendship throughout his time in Jerusalem.
With Netanyahu staying at home, Herzog will travel to Washington next month to address a joint session of Congress at the invitations of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his predecessor Nancy Pelosi. The Israeli president is also expected to meet with Biden, though such invitations are traditionally not issued until several days prior.
In his remarks after Nides, Herzog thanked the congressional leaders for their invitation and declared that “Israel has no greater friend than the United States of America.”
“I am looking forward to sharing Israel’s unique story with the American people on behalf of every Israeli… the story of a nation that rose like a phoenix out of the ashes of destruction,” Herzog added.
Netanyahu struck a similar tone, noting that “America has provided Israel with moral and political backing against those who would wipe us out, the only Jewish state.”
“For 75 years, the United States has been our irreplaceable and indispensable ally. Irreplaceable and indispensable,” the prime minister repeated.
Last week, Netanyahu confirmed to visiting US lawmakers that he would be traveling to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said that they believed the trip, initially planned for July, would apparently take place in October, after the High Holidays.
While Netanyahu said he updated the White House ahead of time, some analysts and former security chiefs expressed concern that such a trip risked further upending ties with Washington at a time when they were already strained, given longstanding US concern about China expanding its influence across the globe.
But the Israeli premier insisted Monday that “security cooperation [with the US] has never been better, intelligence sharing has never been deeper.”
“America defeated the forces of totalitarianism, but we should also remember a basic truth: freedom is precious, and it is never free,” the prime minister added.
Turning to the future, Netanyahu said the US and Israel would expand their cooperation against Iran and move to expand the Abraham Accords — an effort that has been hampered in recent months, thanks to Arab displeasure with Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.
In his brief remarks, Nides sought to strike a more aspirational tone.
“Like all democracies, we are both works in progress, imperfect but striving to live up to our founding ideals. We are both countries that understand that greatness flows from goodness,” he said, adding that he was leaving his post optimistic about the futures of both countries.
“When I took this job, President Biden told me one thing: ‘The United States and Israel share an unbreakable bond, so don’t break it on your watch.’ The good news is I only have seven days left, so I think I’m in pretty good shape,” he cracked.
Turning to Jenin
Both Netanyahu and Herzog also used their speeches to comment on the wide-scale operation that the IDF launched in Jenin early Monday morning.
“In recent months, Jenin has turned into a safe haven for terror,” he said in Hebrew. “There are no places that are safe for terror.”
“Anyone who tries to hurt Israelis — his place is in jail or in the grave,” he thundered to applause.
“I salute you,” he said to the troops fighting in Jenin. “We will continue with the operation until its completion.”
Herzog made a point to stress that while working to root out terror groups from Jenin, the IDF was “doing everything to avoid civilian casualties.”
The US on Monday expressed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Palestinian terror groups but a State Department spokesperson told The Times of Israel, “It is imperative to take all possible precautions to prevent the loss of civilian lives.”
Eight Palestinians were killed in Jenin during the first day of the operation and 80 more were wounded, according to the Palestinian Authority health ministry. The IDF said all eight killed were terrorists, while acknowledging that civilians were among the injured.
“We share the obstinate hope that even as we fight, we do so towards the ultimate goal of peace and prosperity for all,” Herzog said.
