by Carl Osgood (EIRNS) — Apr. 02, 2024
April 2, 2024 (EIRNS)—The “U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group” met by video teleconference yesterday to discuss Israeli plans for Rafah. “The two sides over the course of two hours had a constructive engagement on Rafah,” the White House readout reported. “They agreed that they share the objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah. The U.S. side expressed its concerns with various courses of action in Rafah. The Israeli side agreed to take these concerns into account and to have follow-up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG. The follow up discussions would include in person SCG meeting as early as next week.”
The U.S. side was led by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and officials from the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. The Israeli side was led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.
Prior to the meeting commencing, a U.S. official said Biden administration representatives would be focused on stressing “alternative ways” they believe Israel can achieve its goal of dismantling Hamas, without launching an full-scale incursion into Rafah, CNN reported.
As has been previously reported, the Biden Administration’s disagreement with Israel isn’t on whether Israel should launch an assault on Rafah, but how. Daily massacres of unarmed civilians will look very bad for Biden’s re-election chances.