Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed today, Monday, that he will not send a delegation to Washington as planned after the United States refrained from using its veto power in a United Nations Security Council vote calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu stated, according to a statement from his office, that Washington's failure to veto the proposal constitutes a "clear retreat" from its previous stance and will hinder efforts in the war against Hamas in Gaza, as well as harm efforts to secure the release of over 130 hostages.
Netanyahu's office declared, "In light of the change in the American position, Netanyahu decided not to send the delegation."
In response to the Israeli Prime Minister's threat, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid commented that "Netanyahu's threat to the United States is to divert attention from the conscription law." Lapid stated in a post on the platform "X" that "Netanyahu’s challenging message directed at the Americans is another sad and misguided attempt to divert attention from the mandatory conscription law at the expense of Israel’s relations with the United States," adding, "It's a horrifying discomfort from a Prime Minister who has lost responsibility."
The Israeli news site "Ynet" reported today that "Benjamin Netanyahu said he will cancel a planned visit by a delegation to Washington if the United States does not use its veto power against the Security Council proposal calling for a ceasefire in Gaza."
A senior-level delegation is scheduled to visit Washington to discuss an upcoming Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza. No comment has yet been issued from Netanyahu's office regarding the Ynet report.
