Bibi blocks Israeli intel chiefs' meetings with U.S. officials

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

4 hours ago


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has banned Israel's intelligence and security chiefs from meeting with U.S. officials and lawmakers multiple times since the war in Gaza began, three U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.

Why it matters: Netanyahu seems to be trying to control what American politicians and diplomats hear from Israel — at a time when his government is deeply divided over his war strategy, and relations with the U.S. are growing more tense, the officials said.

Driving the news: Netanyahu's most recent push to control the messaging about the war came three weeks ago, when he banned the directors of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence and security agencies from meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the U.S. officials said.

Rubio, vice chair of the Senate's intelligence committee, requested the meetings during his visit to Israel last month.

Netanyahu himself met with Rubio. The senator's office declined to comment.

Netanyahu's move wasn't a shot at Rubio, the officials said.

Instead, the U.S. officials and some Netanyahu critics in Israel saw it as a sign of what appears to be his growing suspicion about Israel's intelligence, military and security establishment, which hold divergent views about how the prime minister is carrying out the war.

Those agency leaders think Israel needs to craft a clearer strategy for post-war Gaza, and that there should be some role for the Palestinian Authority once Hamas is defeated.

In the past few days, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and cabinet Minister Benny Gantz have publicly demanded that Netanyahu draft a post-war strategy.

Netanyahu rejects the need for a strategy until Hamas is defeated, and opposes the Palestinian Authority having a leadership role in post-Hamas Gaza.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/19/netanyahu-israel-agencies-ban-us-gaza-war

[David__77]

1. That's not surprising. I imagine political leadership wants to maintain message control.

The Gantz-Netanyahu conflict is interesting, given that both assert their support for the current military approach, both oppose Palestinian sovereignty, and both are opposed to a role for Palestinian Authority in Gaza.

[MutantAndProud]

5. But one, according to recorded history

Supported funding Hamas as a foil. Netanyahu received US support while doing so. I think we’ve seen that kind of tactical choice play out very badly in the Middle East post WW2 and should strip support for that and politicians abroad reliant on funding them. It creates the incentive for destabilization (not to mention atrocity) that has come over here domestically. People may have been blinded temporarily but we know now.

[Think. Again.]

2. K&R

[underpants]

3. The longer Bibi can delay, the more death and destruction he can create

Plain and simple

[Lonestarblue]

4. And the longer he can stay in office and delay his trial for corruption.

[brewens]

7. I feel for good Israeli people that never supported Nutandyahoo. The rest are like our MAGAts to me. n/t

[LuvLoogie]

10. They may have emigrated there with hope,

But now they are vastly outnumbered by entitled right-wingers bent on ethnic cleansing. They want to annex the West Bank and Gaza and kick the Palestinians out of Jerusalem, with or without Netanyahu.

The U.S. cannot condone this. BUT what the MIC wants, the MIC gets.

Liberty and Justice for All is a great bumper sticker.

[marble falls]

6. And let's reciprocate by cutting back on further arms shipments.

Last edited Sun May 19, 2024, 11:39 AM - Edit history (1)

[Attilatheblond]

11. Just tell them what David Pecker finally told Trump

No more money until this abuse stops!

[PatSeg]

8. "Netanyahu rejects the need for a strategy

until Hamas is defeated, and opposes the Palestinian Authority having a leadership role in post-Hamas Gaza."

Translation: Never!

Obviously, there is no resolution that Netanyahu accepts. As long as there is an enemy (i.e. Hamas), he believes he can hold on to power indefinitely and avoid prosecution on corruption charges.

[et tu]

9. seems that there will

be no cease fire until bibi is out of office.
u.s. must stop support of the genocide.
what is happening is insanity on top of insanity.

[LiberalArkie]

12. Is Netanyahu working on his allegiance with Putin?

[tornado34jh]

13. You know, Netanyahu is lucky that the US is even supporting him

Honestly, he needs to shut up. At some point, he's going to lose the only ally he has got with his arrogance. He is lucky his sorry ass isn't being tried for war crimes (which I think he should). Also, he should be grateful to have someone have their back when it comes to the UN. The US could have easily abstained/voted yes on many resolutions in the UNSC. But I think that he is not the ally everyone thinks he is. I think he is a double-crosser. I don't think we should be supporting him with weapons. Not that I think it would happen, but what happens if the UN produces a resolution, and the US has had enough of this guy, and then they either abstain or vote yes or the resolutions, what would happen then? I mean, he is not going to win allies by what he is doing now.

[Martin68]

14. I suspect Netanyahu not only Netanyahu seems to be trying to control what American politicians and diplomats hear

from Israel, but also what his intelligence chiefs might hear the US about world opinion. Netanyahu could fear his intelligence chiefs will turn against him, and he can't afford to lose them.

[PSPS]

15. The last thing "Bibi" wants is any more hostages released. His killing spree is all that keeps him out of prison.

[myohmy2]

16. fake info...

"...he banned the directors of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence and security agencies from meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)"

...okay, I can see that...everyone should be banned from meeting with marco rubio...

...but outside of that, I think yahu has developed some serious magat tendencies...

...his mentor, king magat, should be proud...