Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israel's ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog not to provide any assistance to the visit to Washington of war cabinet member Benny Gantz, which he claims violates government regulations. Netanyahu also refused government funding for the trip.
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Gantz will travel to Washington on Sunday for an "unofficial" visit and will meet with senior American officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. According to sources familiar with the visit, Biden might unexpectedly join one of Gantz's meetings in the White House.
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Netanyahu infuriated by Gantz's unofficial U.S. visit
(Photo: Kobi Gideon Ltd, REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Netanyahu was reportedly angered by the visit. "The State of Israel has only one Prime Minister," he said. The Prime Minister's Office does not recognize the visit as an official one because it was not approved by the prime minister.
Gantz also meet Democratic and Republican members of Congress, as well as senior AIPAC officials and will visit Britain on his way back to Israel.
"Minister Gantz personally updated the prime minister on Friday that he intends to visit the U.S., to coordinate with him the messages to convey on behalf of the government," Gantz's office said. "Minister Gantz is expected to return to Israel on Wednesday, after another diplomatic visit to Britain." The visit is taking place amid American frustration with Netanyahu's conduct in the war - and allegations that he is acting according to political considerations, amid pressure from far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
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American administration distancing themselves from Smotrich and Ben-Gvir
(Photo: AFP, רויטרס)
Gantz aims during his visit to preserve Israel's legitimacy for ground operations in the Gaza Strip while promoting an agreement in Lebanon, officials close to the minister said. Gantz also aims for increased American pressure on the mediators in negotiations to secure the release of hostages, to discuss future normalization agreements, which will also be part of the political plan for weakening Hamas rule, and to ensure American assistance to Israel, the officials said.