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Vice President Harris Hosts Israeli War Cabinet Member as US Pushes to Get More Aid into Gaza 

Israel's War Cabinet member Benny Gantz (C) leaves a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (not pictured) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 04 March 2024. (EPA)
Israel's War Cabinet member Benny Gantz (C) leaves a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (not pictured) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 04 March 2024. (EPA)
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Vice President Harris Hosts Israeli War Cabinet Member as US Pushes to Get More Aid into Gaza 

Israel's War Cabinet member Benny Gantz (C) leaves a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (not pictured) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 04 March 2024. (EPA)
Israel's War Cabinet member Benny Gantz (C) leaves a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (not pictured) on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 04 March 2024. (EPA)

Vice President Kamala Harris met on Monday with a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet who came to Washington in defiance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Biden administration intensifies its efforts to push more humanitarian aid into war-battered Gaza.

White House officials said Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival of Netanyahu, requested the meeting and that the Democratic administration believed it was important that Harris sit down with the prominent Israeli official despite Netanyahu's objections.

President Joe Biden, Harris and other senior administration officials have become increasingly blunt about their dissatisfaction with the mounting death toll in Gaza and the suffering of innocent Palestinians as the war nears the five-month mark.

"The president and I have been aligned and consistent from the very beginning," Harris said in an exchange with reporters shortly before meeting with Gantz. "Israel has a right to defend itself. Far too many Palestinian civilians, innocent civilians have been killed. We need to get more aid in, we need to get hostages out. and that remains our position."

The White House, in a statement following the meeting, said Harris and Gantz discussed the urgency of completing a hostage deal to free more than 100 people believed still to be in captivity in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. She also reiterated the administration's support for a temporary extended ceasefire that would facilitate the release of hostages and allow for a surge of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

Although Gantz holds many of the same hardline views as Netanyahu, he has been seen as more open to compromise on critical issues, including the increased delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The meeting comes after the US on Saturday carried out the first of what are expected to be ongoing airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The moment is reflective of the increasingly awkward dynamics in the US-Israel relationship, with the US forced to fly badly needed aid past its close ally as it looks to ramp up assistance for desperate civilians in Gaza. The first airdrop occurred just days after more than 100 Palestinians were killed as they were trying to get food from an Israel-organized convoy.

The White House agreed to the meeting with Gantz even as an official from Netanyahu’s nationalist Likud party said Gantz did not have approval from the prime minister for his meetings in Washington. Netanyahu gave Gantz a "tough talk" about the visit — underscoring a widening crack within Israel’s wartime leadership.

"We have been dealing with all members of the war Cabinet, including Mr. Gantz," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "We see this as a natural outgrowth of those discussions. We’re not going to turn away that sort of opportunity."

In addition to his talks with Harris, Gantz met with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk. Gantz also met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and on Tuesday will sit down with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Gantz, just before the start of his White House meetings, told a reporter with Israel’s public broadcaster Kan: "There will be an open and honest conversation between two friendly and important countries and partners."

Biden is at Camp David, the presidential retreat just outside Washington, until Tuesday as he prepares to deliver the annual State of the Union address later this week.

Over the weekend, Harris issued a forceful call for a temporary ceasefire deal in Gaza, which administration officials say would halt fighting for at least six weeks. She also increased pressure on Israel not to impede the aid that workers are trying to get into the region. The White House has been advocating for that framework deal for weeks.

Israel has essentially agreed to the deal, according to a senior Biden administration official, and the White House has emphasized that the onus is on Hamas to come on board.

Biden faces mounting political pressure at home over his administration's handling of the Israeli-Hamas war, which was triggered when militants in Gaza launched an attack, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage.

In last week's Michigan presidential primary, more than 100,000 Democratic primary voters cast ballots for "uncommitted." Biden still easily won the state's primary, but the "uncommitted" vote reflected a coordinated push by voters on the left to register their dissatisfaction with the president's unwavering support for Israel as its military operations in Gaza have left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead. The vote totals raise concerns for Democrats in a state Biden won by only 154,000 votes in 2020.

Gantz, who polls show could be a formidable candidate for prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. But he has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood — something that Biden sees as essential to forging a lasting peace once the conflict ends but that Netanyahu adamantly opposes.

It is also assumed that when the heavy fighting subsides, Gantz will leave the government, which would increase pressure for early elections.

Since Gantz joined Netanyahu’s three-minister war Cabinet in October, US officials have found him to be easier to deal with than either Netanyahu or Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Until now, calls for elections have been muted due to the war, but analysts think that when Gantz leaves the government, it will send a signal to the Israeli public that the need for national unity has passed and efforts to oust Netanyahu’s government can begin in earnest.

For his part, Gantz was aiming to strengthen ties with the US, bolster support for Israel’s war and push for the release of Israeli hostages, according to a second Israeli official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t allowed to publicly discuss the disputes within the Israeli government. Gantz is scheduled to head to London for meetings after his US visit.

It was unclear if Gantz during his White House talks diverged from Netanyahu's stances on Palestinian statehood or carrying out an expanded operation in the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah. The Biden administration has repeatedly warned Israel against a Rafah operation without a plan to protect civilians, and the White House said Harris reiterated that position in her meeting with Gantz.

"I don’t doubt there are some administration officials who believe just by meeting with Gantz they are undermining Netanyahu," said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a conservative Washington think tank. "But if Gantz carries the government’s line on key issues of disagreement, these meetings are net-negative for the White House while helpful back home for Gantz."

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Iraqi FM: We Informed Tehran that Factions Issue is for Iraq to Decide

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Iraqi FM: We Informed Tehran that Factions Issue is for Iraq to Decide

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Asharq Al-Awsat)

“How do we protect Baghdad from fire?" Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein repeated this question as he reflected on the challenges his country faced in 2024. Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with him in London, just an hour after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas on January 15, 2025.

Hussein said Iraq had avoided war but warned that the danger remains.

Hussein described Iraq as having narrowly avoided war but warned that the threat of conflict still looms.

“The world views us differently now,” he said, acknowledging Iraq’s shifting global image. However, he stressed that Iraqis must address their own issues with armed factions.

“No one will solve these problems for us,” he added, whether Iran disagrees with them or a US president less friendly toward Baghdad and Tehran takes office.

As news of the Gaza ceasefire terms emerged, Hussein asked: “How did we get here? It came far too late, with a heavy human cost.”

Still, he expressed cautious optimism, referring to what he called the “Iraqi prophecy” from October 2023: “Every war leads to another—and there will be more.”

With Lebanon entering a new chapter and Syria transitioning after Bashar al-Assad, Baghdad is asserting its role in London with a broad agreement. Many interpreted the deal as carrying political weight far beyond the official statements. But Hussein candidly remarked: “Yes, it’s a historic agreement, but not in anticipation of Trump’s return.”

British Framework in Iraq

On January 15, Baghdad announced a £12.3 billion investment package from Britain—a landmark deal that Hussein says reflects "the deep ties between the two countries."

The agreement also includes a defense component.

“Instead of collective agreements with the anti-ISIS coalition, we’re working on individual security understandings with countries like France, Germany, and now Britain, to shape cooperation in security,” Hussein explained.

“In Iraq, we have two types of British forces: one as part of the coalition and another under NATO. We need discussions on how to manage this presence from security and military perspectives,” he added.

Asked if these moves were a preemptive response to potential sanctions or regional tensions, Hussein dismissed such claims.

“This isn’t about preparing for Trump’s return to the White House. These talks are purely about Iraq’s policies, its situation, and its bilateral ties with major powers,” he said.

Hussein’s visit to London followed a trip to New York, where Iraq assumed the presidency of the G77+China group, the largest bloc representing developing nations at the UN.

“This leadership strengthens Iraq’s diplomatic ties with the Global North and promotes peace and security globally,” Hussein said.

“It also boosts Iraq’s regional and international standing, including its relations with the US.”

He believes Iraq’s leadership of the group, which he referred to as the “Global South,” is a significant step for the country in the “post-war” era, reflecting “how the world now sees Baghdad.”

Trump’s Return

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has become the hottest topic in Iraq, reviving political tensions and memories of his first term. The renewed strain between Iraq and Iran highlights the impact of US policies on the region.

For Iraq’s top diplomat, it’s a moment to focus on pragmatism and Iraq’s delicate position.

“Trump was elected by the American people, and we respect that,” Hussein said.

“But US tensions with Iran affect the entire region, with Iraq caught in the middle. We share deep ties with both countries—historical, cultural, and economic—and the US has helped us fight terrorism under clear agreements.”

Hussein hopes for dialogue between Washington and Tehran but worries the tensions may persist. He takes comfort in Iraq’s growing awareness of the need to strike a balance.

“Iraqis are now discussing how to navigate between both sides, something that wasn’t easy before,” he said.

To raise awareness, Iraq launched a media campaign to highlight the risks.

“We worked hard to show people that Iraq is at risk. If you can’t convince your own people, you can’t convince the world. It wasn’t easy, but we succeeded in making it clear: Iraq must stay out of war.”

Iraq’s Tough Balancing Act

How has Iraq tackled its complex challenges? Hussein said the country is now openly addressing sensitive issues, including dealing with armed groups outside state control.

“Iraqis are having this discussion publicly,” he said, crediting Najaf’s religious authority for pushing to limit weapons to the state.

“Do we build a state or continue fighting endless battles?” Hussein asked.

“A state cannot exist alongside elements that undermine it. We need internal agreements to ensure no group can impose violence or war. This has been under discussion for some time,” he explained.

These debates began before the October 2023 escalation in Gaza, and the international community is closely watching for a clear resolution to Iraq’s internal debate.

“There are serious discussions happening within Iraqi society and among political leaders,” Hussein affirmed.

“It will take time, but proposals are on the table. Some suggest integrating armed factions into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which are legally part of the military,” he revealed.

“Others propose having these groups hand over their weapons to the PMF and shift to political roles. Whatever the approach, we must avoid any scenario leading to internal conflict,” said Hussein.

The focus includes three groups—al-Nujaba Movement, Kataib Hezbollah, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada—that have carried out hundreds of attacks since October 2023 under the banner of “supporting resistance in Gaza.”

Iraq’s internal discussions may take more time, but the growing threats could complicate the country’s efforts. In November 2024, Hussein mentioned that Iraq had received “clear threats, some from Israel.” So what’s the situation now?

“The threat still exists,” Hussein said. “The level of threat doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the discussions are focused on Iraq’s own need to find solutions, not external pressure.”

On Iran’s recent comments, where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Iraqi factions to confront US forces, Hussein emphasized Iraq’s autonomy: “During my visit to Tehran on January 8 with the Prime Minister, we made it clear that Iraq’s internal issues are for Iraqis to decide. There are differences in Iran's public stance, but in the end, Iraq must make its own decisions.”

Hussein pointed to the challenges Iraq has faced, both domestically and internationally.

“The government has been through difficult times, but we’ve managed to get through it,” he said. Despite the ceasefire in Gaza, he remains cautious. “The tension still exists.”

“2024 was a very tough year for us, dealing with countries we don’t have strong relations with,” Hussein added.

"Iraq is in a region where tensions are still high. The question remains: How do we protect ourselves? The efforts from last year will need to be intensified in the coming period to keep Iraq stable and avoid war.”