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Biden Administration’s Frustration with Netanyahu Over Ceasefire Proposal

Top officials within the Biden administration expressed outrage on Thursday following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a ceasefire proposal initiated by a coalition of nations led by the United States. This proposal was unveiled on Wednesday night, and the swift dismissal by Netanyahu has led U.S. officials to call for a public statement from Israel to address this diplomatic debacle, according to sources who spoke to CNN.

Assurance from Israeli Officials Prior to Announcement

In the days leading up to the proposal’s announcement, U.S. officials had received firm assurances from Ron Dermer, a key advisor and confidant of Netanyahu. Dermer indicated that the prime minister was in agreement with the ceasefire framework, which proposed a 21-day cessation of hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border. Reports from sources indicate that Dermer not only approved the overall text of the proposal but was also a significant part of its development.

Immediate Rejection by Netanyahu Post-Announcement

However, shortly after the Biden administration publicly endorsed the ceasefire initiative, Netanyahu and team quickly dismissed the notion of a ceasefire as “incorrect.” The prime minister reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to continuing military operations against Hezbollah, exacerbating tensions between the U.S. and Israeli leadership.

U.S. Officials Grapple with Israeli Response

Frustrated senior officials from the U.S. government, believing that Netanyahu’s rejection stemmed from domestic pressures from far-right members in his coalition, scrambled to clarify the situation with their Israeli counterparts. This urgency highlighted the precarious nature of diplomatic relations during this critical period.

During a meeting on Thursday in New York City, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confronted Dermer directly, insisting that Israel release a formal statement regarding the ceasefire proposal. This intervention seems to have prompted the Israeli Prime Minister’s office to issue a carefully worded response indicating that discussions around the ceasefire proposal would continue but without an explicit endorsement or rejection.

Israeli Acknowledgment of U.S. Efforts

The Israeli statement acknowledged the importance of U.S. involvement in fostering stability and security in the region, declaring, “Israel appreciates the U.S. efforts in this regard because the U.S. role is indispensable in advancing regional stability.” This acknowledgment, however, surfaced as a potential diplomatic balancing act to mitigate the embarrassment from the earlier rejection.

Blinken’s Candid Engagement with Israeli Officials

An individual well-acquainted with Blinken’s meeting with Dermer noted that discussions were characterized as "candid." Before meeting with Blinken, Dermer also engaged with senior White House officials, including Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, who described their exchanges as "frank." Many within the administration had believed that Dermer’s involvement in formulating the ceasefire proposal indicated Netanyahu’s support for the plan.

Contradictory Statements from Israeli Officials

Highlighting the perplexity surrounding the ceasefire proposal, a senior Israeli official conveyed on Friday that the discrepancies noted were a result of “an honest misunderstanding” between the U.S. and Israel. Meanwhile, another official pointed out that further clarifications were needed before any formal agreement could be reached.

Questions that arose included, “What happens in a ceasefire? Can Hezbollah re-arm?” and “Will they be able to bring in weapons through routes other than Beirut airport, such as the Syrian border?” These inquiries reflect the deep-seated concerns Israel has regarding the ramifications of a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The Need for Serious Discussion

The essential conclusion underscored by the Israeli officials emphasized that any potential ceasefire necessitated thorough dialogue and serious considerations of the underlying security implications.

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This article has been updated to include remarks from Israeli officials.

Contributions to this news piece were made by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Alex Marquardt.

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