Gantz’s US visit exposes rifts in Israel’s wartime leadership

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to engage in discussions on Monday with an Israeli Cabinet member who is making an unofficial visit to Washington, counter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s admonishments.

Benny Gantz, who stands as a moderate adversary to Netanyahu, has scheduled meetings with key figures in the Biden administration, such as Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor, while President Joe Biden is at Camp David until Tuesday.

Netanyahu’s right-leaning Likud party indicated that Gantz’s trip to Washington was not sanctioned by the Prime Minister, who reportedly had a stern conversation with Gantz, highlighting the growing tensions within Israel’s leadership amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

During her meeting with Gantz, Harris is expected to advocate for a short-term ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas. According to a senior official in the Biden administration, Israel is inclined to accept this proposal, placing the responsibility on Hamas to agree. Harris has voiced the urgency of a ceasefire, emphasizing its role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by allowing for hostage release and significant aid delivery.

Harris articulated the goal of the ceasefire as a stepping stone towards a more lasting solution that would ensure Israel’s security and uphold the Palestinian people’s rights to dignity and self-determination.

Gantz’s objectives for the meetings include reinforcing U.S.-Israel relations, garnering support for Israel’s military efforts, and advocating for the release of Israeli hostages. These intentions were shared by an Israeli official under the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public discourse about internal governmental disputes.

These discussions occur as the U.S. initiates aid airdrops into Gaza, following a tragic incident where Palestinians were killed attempting to access food from an Israeli-organized convoy. The U.S. has commenced these airdrops to complement truck deliveries and is also considering sea routes for aid.

In a speech in Selma, Alabama, Harris called on Israel to significantly improve aid flow into Gaza, demanding the opening of new border crossings and the elimination of unnecessary aid delivery restrictions.

Harris and Gantz had previously met at the Munich Security Conference in 2022, marking a continuation of their diplomatic engagements amidst the complex geopolitical landscape.