Biden flip flopped already
‘Up to Israeli people to decide’ on elections: White House
US President Joe Biden doesn’t seek to interfere with the will of the Israeli people on holding elections, the White House says. The comments come after a controversial speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who suggested Israel’s “extremist” government should call a vote after its brutal war on Gaza.
“That’s going to be up to the Israeli people to decide,” White House spokesman John Kirby told a press briefing when asked about the president’s backing of Schumer’s speech. He is the highest-ranking Jewish American in the US political hierarchy.
“I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans,” Biden said.
Eu also happy with a 'new' puppet government
EU welcomes appointment of new Palestinian Authority PM
Senior European Union official Josep Borrell says the Palestinian people need “well-governed institutions that deliver much-needed services in these trying times”. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the new government, including on addressing the tragic situation in Gaza, and working on key reforms towards stronger democratic institutions and governance for the benefit of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and in Gaza,” a statement said.
“The Palestinian Authority has been and remains an important partner of the EU, also for the future of Gaza.”
President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday appointed his longtime economic adviser Mohamed Mustafa to be the next prime minister in the face of US pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority as part of Washington’s post-war vision for Gaza.
‘Very likely’ Israel will now attack Rafah with ground forces
Israel is sending mixed messages after announcing its war cabinet approved a ground invasion of Rafah city, yet also saying it’s sending a delegation to Qatar for truce talks. “It is very confusing what is going on especially after announcing the greenlight for the operation in Rafah,” said Luciano Zaccara from the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University.
He told Al Jazeera despite mounting international pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu hasn’t abandoned the plan to attack the southern city where about 1.5 million people are sheltering. “Hopefully, the ground invasion of Rafah is just a bluff so they can use this as leverage to get something in negotiations. But everything Netanyahu said he will do he did it, so I assume it is very likely this is going to happen.”
News reports: Israeli military operation in Rafah ‘is not imminent’
Israeli media have questioned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s declaration of his approval for military plans to imminently launch a ground invasion of Rafah city, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering from attacks.
“Netanyahu’s talk of an imminent operation in Rafah appears more geared toward pressuring Hamas to agree to a hostage deal,” the Times of Israel reports.
It noted that Channel 12 and the Ynet news outlets also are sceptical of the Rafah attack. “The networks indicate that despite Netanyahu’s declarations, an operation in Rafah is not imminent.”
