03/22/2024

A State Department Official Warned Israel of Reputational Damage in Gaza War

Netanyahu continues to ignore U.S. input into Israel's war

The Biden administration is concerned Israel is making a "major strategic error" by denying "major, possibly generational damage" to Israel's reputation worldwide over its war in Gaza, according to a State Department memo obtained by NPR.

Assistant Secretary of State Bill Russo, overseeing global public affairs in the U.S. State Department, told Israeli foreign ministry officials in a call on March 13 that both the U.S. and Israel face a "major credibility problem" as a result of the "unpopular" Israeli military offensive in Gaza, according to a U.S. readout of the conversation.

"The Israelis seemed oblivious to the fact that they are facing major, possibly generational damage to their reputation not just in the region but elsewhere in the world," the memo states. "We are concerned that the Israelis are missing the forest for the trees and are making a major strategic error in writing off their reputation damage."

Please select this link to read the complete article from NPR.