Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the conversation he had this evening (Monday) with US President Joe Biden. "We talked about the latest developments in the war," said the Prime Minister.
Netanyahu added that the two leaders discussed Israel's commitment to achieving all the goals of the war: the elimination of Hamas, the release of all Israeli hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel - while providing the necessary humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians help achieve these goals.
The conversation was overshadowed by widespread tensions between Israel and the White House, and growing criticism of Israel's conduct in the war.
Just yesterday (Sunday), Netanyahu sharply rebuked Biden at the beginning of the cabinet meeting, claiming that, "in the international community, there are those who are trying to end the war now, before securing all its goals. They do this by hurling false accusations against the IDF, against the government of Israel, and against the head of the government of Israel."
"They do so through an effort to bring about elections now in the midst of the war. And they do this, because they know that elections now will stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months," he said.
"So let this be clear: if we stop the war now, before achieving all its goals, the significance is that Israel lost the war. And this - we will not allow."
Netanyahu also reiterated his support for an operation in Rafah as necessary for destroying Hamas and freeing all of the hostages.
"And to our friends in the international community, I say: Is your memory so short? You forgot October 7 so quickly?...You lost your moral compass so quickly?"
The Likud Party also issued an official response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's statement calling for new elections and claiming that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not represent the majority of Israelis in his conduct of the war.
In the statement, the Likud party said that "we are not a banana republic, but an independent and proud democracy which elected Prime Minister Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading a determined policy which is supported by an enormous majority of the people."