Washington: Israeli former opposition leader Benny Gantz is set to meet senior Biden administration officials on his visit to the United States.
The proposed meeting of Gantz, now a member of Israel’s war cabinet, on Monday is reported to have enraged his rival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and appears to signal a widening split in Tel Aviv as the war in Gaza enters its fifth month.
On Tuesday, the one-time defence minister will meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has led calls for Netanyahu to allow the passage of more aid to ease the humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where famine now looms, according to the United Nations.
Israel and the US also disagree on how governance for the enclave will look like post-war.
Israeli media report that Netanyahu, who was apparently unaware of Gantz’s trip until his rival called him on Friday, has “made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister”.
The Israeli embassy in Washington, DC is reported to have been ordered not to facilitate the “unauthorised” trip.