JERUSALEM, Israel – As Jews celebrated the holiday of Purim and Christians celebrated Palm Sunday, Israel and the U.S. continue to spar over whether or not Israel’s military will launch an operation into Rafah, the last stronghold in Gaza.
The faceoff puts the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government on a collision course.
Israel’s defense minister is off to Washington, saying he wants to make sure Israel continues to get arms and what it needs for its air defense systems.
He’ll also argue that in addition to Israel, the United States has a vital interest in seeing Hamas defeated.
Yet, Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday wouldn’t rule out consequences for Israel if it launches its military operation in Rafah to defeat Hamas.
She posted on X, “We have been clear in multiple conversations and in many ways that any major military operation into Rafah would be a huge mistake.”
Those consequences could include placing conditions on future U.S. military aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded for Israel when he met Friday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“I also said that we have no way to defeat Hamas without going into Rafah and eliminating the rest of the battalions there. And I told
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