Washington reportedly provides $3.8bn in military assistance to Israel annually.
Washington: The White House has canceled a major meeting between the US and Israeli security officials in Washington, DC, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the Joe Biden administration for 'withholding' arms supply to Israel, according to a media report.
Netanyahu said in a video statement earlier this week that it was “inconceivable” that the United States had been “withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel” in recent months.
The White House canceled the high-level talks to send a message to Netanyahu that such remarks against the Biden administration were not acceptable, Axios reported, citing two US officials. “This decision makes it clear that there are consequences for pulling such stunts,” one US official said.
The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed out that billions of dollars worth of weaponry had poured through without hindrance, with only one weapons supply having been stopped since the war's commencement. "We genuinely do not know what he is talking about," she stated.
A top Israeli official also agreed that “the Americans are fuming. [Netanyahu’s] video made a lot of damage”. Biden and his top aides often stress their commitment to Israel. Washington provides $3.8bn in military assistance to Israel annually. In April, Biden signed a law granting the US ally $17bn in additional aid amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
According to an Al Jazeera report, Washington confirmed last month holding up a single shipment of 900kg (2,000 pounds) bombs to the Israeli military over concerns about civilian casualties in Israel’s assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.
