Biden, Netanyahu Escalate Public Dispute Over Gaza Conflict
Biden's Credibility on the Line
US President Joe Biden has put his own and America's credibility on the line in trying to change how Israel is fighting in Gaza, with 10 days of violence claiming hundreds of lives and no sign of a ceasefire.
Netanyahu Escalates Dispute
Israel's embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated a rare public dispute with Biden on Tuesday, saying he was "surprised" by the American leader's criticism of Israel's tactics.
Netanyahu said he would not be "lectured" by the United States on morality and accused Biden of "abandoning Israel." The comments marked a significant escalation in tensions between the two leaders.
Public Estrangement
Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York, told CNN that the public estrangement between Biden and Netanyahu is "unprecedented." He said that the relationship between the two leaders is now "at its lowest point in decades."
Test of Leadership
Biden's scheduled call with Netanyahu on Thursday will not simply test the leaders' increasingly strained relationship. It will also test Biden's ability to de-escalate the conflict and his credibility as a mediator in the Middle East.
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