Headline Roundup • March 4th, 2024
Netanyahu Rival Benny Gantz Visits US Amid Calls for Gaza Ceasefire
Middle East,Israel,Israel Hamas Violence,Kamala Harris,Benjamin Netanyahu,Gaza,Palestine,White House,Foreign Policy
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz was slated to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House Monday afternoon, a potential sign of divisions within the Israeli government amid ceasefire talks.
The Details: Ahead of the meeting, Harris publicly called for Israel and Hamas to agree to a negotiated six-week ceasefire proposal that would include the release of Hamas’ hostages.
For Context: The visit by Gantz, a Netanyahu rival labeled a “centrist” by Politico (Lean Left bias), was widely said to signal a potential split within the Israeli government over the conflict. Netanyahu was reportedly “enraged” by Gantz’s U.S. trip, and senior Israeli officials cited by Haaretz (Lean Left bias) reportedly said the visit “was a calculated move by the White House designed to strengthen the moderate wing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.” Netanyahu’s relationship with President Joe Biden has reportedly been strained in recent months, with Biden reportedly privately referring to the Israeli leader as an “a*****e” on multiple occasions.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was moderately common in mainstream news outlets. Coverage from the right appeared to pay more attention to Harris’ call for an “immediate” ceasefire.
Featured Coverage of this Story
REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz will meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and other top U.S. officials in Washington on Monday as the White House ramps up pressure on Israel to protect civilians in Gaza during its war with Hamas.
Gantz, a political rival to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will also meet with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk on Monday and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, according to a statement by his office.
Harris and Gantz will discuss increasing aid...
Mike Stewart/AP
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to meet Monday with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet and centrist political rival of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, in a sign of growing White House frustration with the Israeli government.
The White House meeting, which was not authorized by Netanyahu, presents a major test for President Joe Biden's relationship with the Netanyahu. The U.S has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to scale back the war in Gaza and its efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.
Harris on Sunday called for...
ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized his rival and war cabinet member Benny Gantz for traveling to the US to meet with officials without authorization, according to reports.
“The prime minister made it clear to Gantz [Friday] night that he does not approve of his trip to Washington. Any official trip abroad by a minister that is not private but rather in an official capacity requires approval from the prime minister,” an unnamed senior figure close to Netanyahu told Haaretz.
A source from Netanyahu‘s Likud Party also told the Associated Press (AP) that Netanyahu...
