The tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government on the one hand, and his security services on the other hand, do not end.
As of today, a dispute broke out between the security services and Netanyahu because the security leaders did not know that a delegation was heading to Washington, except through an official announcement published by the White House a few days ago.
White House announcement
It appears that the Prime Minister excluded the security services from consultations regarding the delegations that will go to Washington, in order to discuss the issue of the invasion of the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip and to listen to the alternative plans that the American administration may propose, according to what was reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, today, Wednesday.
Senior officials of the security establishment confirmed that they did not know anything about sending the delegation until after the White House announcement.
In addition, informed sources reported that after the publication of the official American announcement, talks took place between members of the security establishment and the Prime Minister’s Office, but the latter did not reveal any details related to the delegation.
“We will enter Rafah”
In a closed discussion that took place in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, Knesset member Zeev Elkin asked Netanyahu: “If entering Rafah was going to happen anyway, why would you send a team to the United States to discuss this matter?”
The Prime Minister only replied, “We will enter Rafah. Once we enter… it will take us two months to finish the work.”
Two Israeli delegations are heading to the United States separately to hold security discussions with officials in the White House, centering around the ground operation in Rafah and the issue of humanitarian aid.
One of the delegations is headed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi leads the second delegation.
Gallant is also scheduled to meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, amid escalating American and international warnings against an invasion of the Palestinian city in the densely populated southern Strip.
It is noteworthy that Netanyahu had also previously clashed with Gallant and other ministers within his mini-government.
His relationship with US President Joe Biden has also witnessed a dramatic decline recently for several reasons related to the way he managed the war in Gaza.
They also faced severe internal criticism and demonstrations by the families of the prisoners who have been detained in the Palestinian Strip since the seventh of last October.
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