In rare move: Biden Antisemites Summon Israel's Ambassador to the US

 

Michael Herzog

In a rare move, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, was summoned on Tuesday for a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

The meeting concerned the Knesset’s approval of the law repealing the Disengagement in northern Samaria, Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement.

“The Deputy Secretary conveyed US concern regarding legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset rescinding important aspects of the 2005 Disengagement Law, including the prohibition on establishing settlements in the northern West Bank,” said Patel.

“They also discussed the importance of all parties refraining from actions or rhetoric that could further inflame tensions leading into the Ramadan, Passover, and Easter holidays,” he added, in what could be viewed as a reference to the controversial remarks by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said at an event in Paris on Sunday that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian people.”

A meeting of this type is very rare in Israel-US relations and constitutes an official diplomatic protest. The Americans usually make sure to convey their messages to Israel without using these types of procedures.

In fact, the meeting came hours after Patel condemned the Knesset's passage of the amendment repealing the Disengagement from northern Samaria and allowing Jews to return to the four communities which were destroyed there in 2005.

"The United States is extremely troubled that the Israeli Knesset has passed legislation rescinding important parts of the 2005 Disengagement Law, including the prohibition on establishing settlements in the northern West Bank," Patel said.

Patel claimed that Homesh, one of the four communities is "illegal" even under Israeli law because it was "built on private Palestinian land."

He called the move "particularly provocative and counterproductive to efforts for restoring calm" and said that the administration "strongly urges Israel to refrain from allowing the return of settlers to the area covered by the legislation."

Patel also condemned Smotrich’s remarks in Paris, saying the Biden administration found the Finance Minister’s remarks "to not only be inaccurate but also deeply concerning and dangerous."

"The Palestinians have a rich history and culture," Patel said.