Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at sharp criticism from western allies of Israel’s strategy in Gaza, accusing them of seeking to orchestrate elections that would “paralyse” the country and lead to its defeat in the war against Hamas.
Addressing a government meeting before scheduled talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister vowed to resist the intensifying international pressure, especially from the White House, to delay an offensive into the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip.
He also responded directly to criticism made last week by US senator Chuck Schumer, in which America’s most prominent Jewish politician said Netanyahu’s hard-right government needed to be replaced to avoid Israel becoming a “pariah”.