
Joe has ‘frustrating’ call with Bibi. Israel withholding tax $ from the Palestinian Authority
It’s the latest sign of tension between Washington and Tel Aviv
DAILY MAIL
- A U.S. official described the call was one of the most difficult and ‘frustrating’ conversations Biden has had with Netanyahu
- Tensions have grown between the two leaders since war began on Oct. 7
- ‘The feeling was that the president is going out on a limb for Bibi every day and when Bibi needs to give something back, ‘ the U.S. official said
President Joe Biden held a ‘frustrating call’ with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend where he pushed him to release tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority, according to a new report on Friday.
The call is the latest sign of tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv as the war against Hamas continues.
A U.S. official told Axios the call was one of the most difficult and ‘frustrating’ conversations Biden has had with Netanyahu since the war in Gaza began on October 7.
While Biden publicly supports Israel and the war, tensions have emerged behind the scenes as he has urged Netanyahu to tone down the attacks and raised concern about the number of civilians being killed. There is also growing international pressure on Israel to declare a cease fire.


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Additionally, the president cannot afford to have America pulled into a prolonged Middle East conflict as he prepares to run for a second term next year. U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq have already faced attacks by Iranian proxy groups.
He also can’t afford to have the Palestinian Authority collapse, which it could if it doesn’t get the funds.
Israel collects monthly tax revenues on imports and exports, and transfers those funds to the PA, which is one of their major sources of income.
But they have started to hold off on some of the transfers, citing concerns the money could reach Hamas. In return, the PA said it would accept all the funds or none of them.
Biden and his administration, however, are worried without the money the Palestinian Authority will collapse, leading to an escalation of violence in the West Bank.
During their conversation, Biden pushed Netanyahu to go ahead with a proposal the prime minister has already indicated was acceptable: transfer the tax revenues to Norway for safekeeping until an arrangement can be made to reassure Tel Aviv the money won’t go to Hamas.
The Palestinian Authority has already accepted this proposal.
But Netanyahu backtracked, Axois reported, and said he doesn’t think this is a good idea anymore. Biden, in return, told Netanyahu to solve the issue, noted ‘this conversation is over’ and ended the call.
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Header featured image (edited) credit: Netanyahu/Biden/Ulrigh Baumgarten via Getty Images | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
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