Netanyahu sets record straight

(JNS) — Asked by a reporter if he has plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden said “eventually.” Asked if it would happen this week or next, the U.S. president said “eventually,” per the White House pool report.

Earlier on Sept. 2, Biden said that Netanyahu wasn’t doing enough to free the hostages. The Israeli prime minister responded to a similar question from a reporter during a speech, in which he said that “I was asked whether I am not doing enough to the release of hostages. Well, I want to set the record straight. On April 27, Secretary of State Blinken said that ‘Israel made an extraordinary, generous offer for a hostage deal.’ On May 31, Israel agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal. Hamas refused,” Netanyahu said. “On Aug. 16, Israel agreed to what the United States defined as a ‘final bridging proposal.’ Hamas refused again.

“On Aug. 19th, Secretary Blinken said, ‘Israel accepted the U.S. proposal. Now Hamas must do the same.’ On Aug. 28—that’s five days ago, five days ago—deputy CIA director said that ‘Israel shows seriousness in the negotiations. Now Hamas must show the same seriousness.’

“I want to ask you something. What has changed in the last five days? What has changed? One thing: these murderers executed six of our hostages. They shot them in the back of the head. That’s what changed,” Netanyahu said. “And now after this, we’re asked to show seriousness? We’re asked to make concessions? What message does this send Hamas? It says, kill more hostages. Murder more hostages and you will get more concessions.

“The pressure internationally must be directed at these killers. At Hamas. Not at Israel. We say ‘yes’. They say ‘no’ all the time, but they also murdered these people, and we now we need maximum pressure on Hamas,” he added. “I don’t believe that either President Biden or anyone serious about achieving peace and achieving the release would seriously ask Israel—Israel—to make these concessions. We’ve already made them. Hamas has to make the concessions.”

Per the pool report, Biden was asked about Netanyahu’s press conference, and the U.S. president said that “we’re still in negotiations—not with him, but with my colleagues from Qatar and from Egypt.”