The White House has refuted claims circulating in US and Israeli media that high-level discussions between American and Israeli security officials in Washington, DC, have been called off.
Reports from Axios and various Hebrew sources suggested that the meeting was canceled following a social media video posted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he criticized the Biden administration for alleged delays in arms deliveries to Israel.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer acknowledged that the meeting had been canceled, but that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew had reassured Netanyahu that the weapons in question were being delivered.
However, the White House issued a strong rebuttal, clarifying that the meeting, contrary to Axios's account, had only been rescheduled due to a timing issue.
Unconfirmed reports earlier this week suggested that the U.S. had assured the Israeli government that weapons deliveries would soon resume. These assurances reportedly came after the Biden administration had paused some arms shipments in early May.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted an online video claiming that the Biden administration had been withholding certain weapons and urging the White House to resume shipments. In response, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated hours later that the administration was unaware of what Netanyahu was referring to.
When asked if the current dispute signaled a new rift in the already rocky relationship between U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli spokesman David Mencer responded that the partnership between the U.S. and Israel remains strong. He noted, however, that there will be times in that partnership when issues come up that test that relationship, adding that Israel agrees that the U.S. is their closest partner. “We are facing the same enemies.”
Netanyahu is still scheduled to address a special joint session of Congress on July 24, which some Democrats vow to disrupt and protest.
