Gantz said in a statement on Saturday that he “personally informed the prime minister, on his own initiative, on Friday, of his intention to travel in order to coordinate the messages that will be conveyed in the meetings.”
Gantz’s scheduled trip to Washington revealed a sharp disagreement with him NetanyahuAccording to local press reports.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that Gantz’s visit to Washington to hold a series of meetings there was not scheduled in coordination with Netanyahu, who considered it an abuse of his position.
The newspaper quoted Netanyahu’s office as saying, “The Prime Minister was angry that Gantz traveled without his approval, contrary to government regulations that require ministers to coordinate their trips with the Prime Minister, including approval for travel.”
According to those close to Netanyahu, “The Prime Minister made it clear to Gantz that Israel has only one prime minister.”
He added Gantz In his statement, he will meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, as well as with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and with Republican and Democratic members of Congress.
The moves come within the framework of Washington’s efforts to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement and increase the flow of aid to Gaza.
A White House official said that the talks are expected to address topics including reducing human casualties among Palestinian civilians, securing a temporary ceasefire, releasing hostages held in Gaza, and increasing aid to the Strip.
The official explained that Harris “will express her concern about the safety of up to 1.5 million people in Rafah,” adding that Israel also has “the right to defend itself in the face of continuing terrorist threats from Hamas.”
Gantz, who was a military commander and defense minister, is considered Netanyahu’s main political rival in opinion polls, and his visit to Washington would anger the prime minister, who is under criticism from the US President. joe biden.
Biden said in December that Israel was losing support due to its “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza, and that Netanyahu must be replaced, revealing a rift in relations with the Israeli prime minister.
The White House official said that Harris and Gantz will also discuss plans to support the Palestinian Authority, so that it can manage the Gaza Strip after the end of the war.
The United States and other countries expect to increase aid to Gaza after a temporary ceasefire, which Biden said on Friday that he hopes will happen by the month of Ramadan, that is, in about a week.
Two Egyptian security sources said that truce talks in Gaza are scheduled to resume in Cairo on Sunday, but Israeli media said that Israel It will not send its delegation to the Egyptian capital until it obtains a complete list of the Israeli hostages still alive.
The two Egyptian sources added that the delegations of Israel and Hamas are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday.
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