New Zealand PM says Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot’
Christopher Luxon says Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost the plot” as his country weighs up whether to recognise a Palestinian state.
“I think what’s happening in Gaza is utterly appalling. I think Netanyahu has gone way too far. I think he has lost the plot,” the prime minister told reporters.
He called Israeli attacks overnight on Gaza “utterly, utterly unacceptable” and said the forceful displacement of people and the annexation of Gaza would be a breach of international law.
“We have called these things out consistently … and he’s just not listening,” the leader added.
Luxon said earlier this week that New Zealand was considering whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would do so at a UN conference in September.
Unacceptable but all we'll do is utter some empty words in September...
Netanyahu ‘impervious’ to international condemnation due to US support
A former Israeli diplomat says that Benjamin Netanyahu seems largely impervious to the “tsunami” of diplomatic pressure being directed at his government, but should be wary of leaving his country’s fortunes to the whims of Donald Trump.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv, Alon Pinkas said that although Israel was becoming an international outcast, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying Netanyahu had “lost the plot” and other Western countries preparing to recognise a Palestinian state, Netanyahu seemed to “relish” the criticism.
“He seems to be somewhat impervious to these kinds of pressures,” said Pinkas, adding that Netanyahu’s attitude was “us against the world”.
Crucially, the US had not joined in the statements criticising Israel, and had dismissed talk of recognising a Palestinian state as “premature and unhelpful”.
He said that support from the US made Netanyahu less concerned about diplomatic pressure from other countries – but that Netanyahu should be wary of becoming so isolated from other allies while assuming that Trump’s support would always be there.
“If I were Netanyahu, I would be very cautious, because he’s now reliant and dependent … on the whims of one person, Donald Trump. That’s not a place Israel needs to be.”
Israeli army chief greenlights ‘main framework’ for next phase of Gaza war
The Israeli military says its chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, has signed off on the “main framework for the [Israeli military’s] operational plan” in Gaza, a week after the security cabinet approved plans to seize Gaza City.
Despite earlier reported disagreements with Prime Minister Netanyahu over the war’s direction, Zamir approved the “central concept” for its next stage during a meeting with the military’s supreme command, Shin Bet representatives and commanders, according to the military statement published on Telegram.
During the meeting, he “emphasised the importance of increasing troop readiness and preparedness for reserve recruitment, while conducting proficiency training and providing breathing space ahead of the upcoming missions”, said the military statement.
Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City have drawn broad international consternation, including from the UN and Western countries such as the UK, Germany, Italy France and Canada.
