Inside Israel's failed Ukraine-Russia mediation efforts

1 big thing: Inside Israel's failed Ukraine-Russia mediation efforts

Part II: "Mediation died when Bucha happened"

Scenes from Bucha, Ukraine, after Russian troops retreated. 

3. How it happened: Israel's early intel about the invasion

Israeli flag is seen in front of the building where Israeli Embassy is located in Kyiv, Ukraine, in October 2019. Photo: Sergii Kharchenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Israeli lawmakers urge Netanyahu to send Ukraine weapons

4. Israeli lawmakers urge Bibi to send Ukraine weapons

5. Israeli officials say first intel on Iran drones came from Mossad

This week's edition (2,052 words, 8 minutes) is a special takeover ahead of the one-year anniversary of the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As the Israeli government faces growing pressure to send military help to Ukraine, I look back at what guided Israel's policy and how the country's early mediation shaped the first year of diplomacy to try to end the conflict.

Tel Aviv

A set of building blocks, each decorated with a flag of a country in the Middle East.

darkTeal

Go behind the scenes with Israel's most plugged-in reporter, Barak Ravid, on the events and decisions impacting the region.

Axios from Tel Aviv

U.S.-Saudi relations "better," regardless of China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal

1 big thing: U.S.-Saudi relations in "better spot," regardless of deal

Scoop: Israel approves export licenses for anti-drone systems for Ukraine

2. Scoop: Israel OKs export licenses for anti-drone systems for Ukraine

UN envoy: "Responsible leaders" can take steps to de-escalate tensions in West Bank

3. UN: "Responsible leaders" can take steps to de-escalate during Ramadan

4. Part II: UN envoy's worry about Bibi's judicial overhaul 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

5. Erdoğan faces toughest election yet

This week's edition (2,251 words, 8½ minutes) starts with how the U.S. views the China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal. It also brings you a major scoop on Israel and Ukraine. 

And I talked to the UN envoy for Middle East peace about what steps can be taken to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

⚡ Situational awareness: I'm heading to Berlin to cover Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to express concerns over the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan. Read more. 

U.S.-Israel relations in crisis mode as tensions boil over

1 big thing: U.S.-Israel relations in crisis mode as tensions boil over

Scoop: U.S. Dem lawmakers hold "emotional" meeting with Israeli ambassador

2. Scoop: U.S. Democrats hold "tough" meeting with Israeli ambassador

Scoop: Israel sees opportunity in Iran-Saudi deal, Israeli official says

3. Scoop: Israel sees opportunity in Iran-Saudi deal 

Scoop: Iran enriching uranium above 60% could trigger strike, Israeli official says

4. Scoop: Iran enriching uranium above 60% could trigger Israeli strike, official says

The flags of Iran and Israel outside the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, in May 2021. 

Lebanon's economic woes worsen

5. Lebanon's economic woes worsen

 A Lebanese couple sits outside a closed fortified local bank branch in Beirut on March 14. Photo: Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty Images

This week's edition (2,209 words, 8½ minutes) starts with the strong and rare U.S. rebuke of Israel over a new West Bank law. 

It also brings you three scoops addressing the opportunity Israel sees in the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal, a tough private meeting Jewish members of Congress had with Israel's ambassador to the U.S., and Israel's warning to Iran over its nuclear program. 

Editor's note: Item 2 of this newsletter has been corrected to reflect that one lawmaker (not two) told Axios the discussion with Herzog was "frank and candid" with all the attendees expressing concerns that reflected what many are hearing from their Jewish constituents. Item 4 has been corrected to reflect Lloyd Austin is the U.S. secretary of defense (not secretary of state).

1 big scoop: Top Israeli officials to visit White House to talk Iran

2. Scoop: Austin to visit Israel as tensions in West Bank intensify

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give a statement after their meeting in Jerusalem on April 12, 2021. Photo: 

Scoop: McConnell says U.S. shouldn't weigh in on Bibi's judicial overhaul plan

3. Scoop... McConnell: U.S. shouldn't weigh in on Bibi's judicial overhaul

McConnell stands next to Netanyahu during their meeting in Jerusalem in February. 

Scoop: The real reason Netanyahu didn't go to the UAE in January

4. Scoop: The real reason Bibi didn't go to the UAE in January

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets first ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Israel, Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja

Scoop: Trump's former ambassador to Israel slams Bibi's judicial overhaul plan

5. Scoop: Trump's ex-ambassador slams Bibi's judicial overhaul

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman

This week's edition (1,992 words, 7½ minutes) brings you five scoops related to officials' travel plans, Iran's "remarkable" nuclear progress, and why David Friedman thinks Bibi and the Israeli right have gone too far. 

🚨 Situational awareness: Israeli police used stun grenades and water cannons on protesters who were rallying against the government's judicial overhaul plan today. 

Plus: Iran's "remarkable" nuclear progress

Protests over Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan rock Israeli military

1 big thing: Protests over Bibi's judicial plan rock IDF

Israel protests force Pentagon chief to cut Tel Aviv trip short, Israeli officials say

2. Austin forced to cut trip to Israel short

3. Austin's unannounced visit to Iraq 

Lloyd Austin meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. 

4. Smotrich still waiting on diplomatic visa to travel to U.S.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Jan. 11. Photo: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images

U.S. and Israel looking at Iran from "much closer point of view"

5. U.S. and Israel looking at Iran from "much closer point of view"

This week's edition (2,081 words, 8 minutes) starts with the growing protests, including in the military, over the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan. 

It also previews U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to Israel and dives into how talks between the U.S. and Israel on Iran went. 

National

The Israeli government sees the recent agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran not as a threat, but as an opportunity for Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with the Saudi kingdom, a senior Israeli diplomatic official directly involved in the efforts told Axios.

Why it matters: Netanyahu said in his inauguration speech three months ago that his main foreign policy objective is to broaden the Abraham Accords and reach a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Driving the news: The senior diplomatic official said the war in Yemen has been a major "irritant" in U.S.-Saudi relations in recent years, hampering efforts for Israel-Saudi normalization steps. 

If the Saudi-Iran agreement leads to the end of the war, "this irritant will go away and relations between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. will improve," the official said. "The more relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia improve, the easier it will be to work on promoting normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel."

Behind the scenes: The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Center for Political Research last week issued a classified report analyzing the Saudi-Iranian deal, a Foreign Ministry official who read the report said.

The report concludes that the Saudi-Iran agreement will not block the normalization process between Gulf countries and Israel, the Foreign Ministry official told me. 

“The experience of the last two years proves that a dialogue between the Gulf countries and Iran doesn’t mean suspending the contacts with Israel," the official quoted the report as saying.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

The big picture: The White House also doesn’t think the Saudi-Iran deal will hamper the Biden administration's efforts to push for normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel nor will it lead countries that have signed on to the Abraham Accords, like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, to cool their relations with Israel, as Axios previously reported.

“We completely reject the idea that Saudi Arabia reopening an embassy in Tehran will somehow frustrate the process of Israel-Saudi normalization," the U.S. official said.

Yes, but: The efforts to push for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be facing significant hurdles from other directions, including the ongoing escalation of tensions in the occupied West Bank and the policies of Israel's right-wing government.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry has issued at least five condemnation statements against Israel since the new Israeli government was sworn in less than three months ago. 

The Saudis have escalated their rhetoric and public criticism against the Israeli government and started to again refer to it as "the occupation government." 

The deal may be an opportunity for Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with the Saudi kingdom, an official said.

Newspapers in Tehran on March 10 feature the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

Iran

Israel

The Israeli government sees the recent agreement between <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Saudi Arabia and Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/10/iran-saudi-arabia-resume-relations-china-mediation" data-vars-content-id="3e0a28d6-faec-4c9c-9cac-798e5ade2499" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Israel sees opportunity in Iran-Saudi deal, Israeli official says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/10/iran-saudi-arabia-resume-relations-china-mediation" target="_self">Saudi Arabia and Iran</a> not as a threat, but as an opportunity for Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with the Saudi kingdom, a senior Israeli diplomatic official directly involved in the efforts told Axios.Why it matters: Netanyahu said in his inauguration speech three months ago that his main foreign policy objective is to broaden the Abraham Accords and reach a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="peace agreement with Saudi Arabia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/10/saudi-iran-deal-relations-weakness-us-israel" data-vars-content-id="3e0a28d6-faec-4c9c-9cac-798e5ade2499" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Israel sees opportunity in Iran-Saudi deal, Israeli official says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/10/saudi-iran-deal-relations-weakness-us-israel" target="_self">peace agreement with Saudi Arabia</a>.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

U.S.-Israeli relations are in full crisis mode less than three months after Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

Driving the news: The U.S. summoned Israeli Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog on Tuesday to protest an Israeli law passed earlier that day that repealed the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the northern occupied West Bank.

The rare U.S. rebuke of one of its closest allies came after weeks of bubbling tensions between the two countries.

How we got here: Biden administration officials told Axios they knew a crisis with the Israeli government was going to happen at some point, but they tried to postpone it as much as possible.

The administration had expressed concerns even before Netanyahu was sworn in, including over the ministerial posts the prime minister was set to give to certain far-right coalition partners. But at the time, U.S. officials say, the Biden administration wanted to avoid confrontation so it could directly work with Netanyahu on countering Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords.

Netanyahu also sought to reassure international concerns about his government, telling U.S. news outlets that he "will have his hands on the wheel" and not his far-right extremist coalition partners.

Still, tensions began to bubble just weeks after the Israeli government was sworn in when the ruling coalition presented its plan to weaken the Supreme Court and other democratic institutions. U.S. officials, including President Biden, expressed concerns over what the plan would mean for Israel's democracy.

Tensions also bubbled over several incidents in the occupied West Bank, including Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's call to "wipe out" the Palestinian village of Hawara — a call he has since tried to walk back.

The comment led the White House to publicly announce that the Biden administration would boycott Smotrich during his visit to Washington. The State Department considered not issuing a visa. 

Tensions continued to surface when the White House again condemned Smotrich — this time for his claim that the Palestinian people were “an invention” and don't exist.

Then, on Tuesday, those tensions boiled over when the Israeli Knesset repealed the 2005 disengagement law. The move allows Israeli citizens to enter the area between the cities of Jenin and Nablus, which Israeli settlers had evacuated in 2005.

The move could dramatically increase the potential for friction between settlers and Palestinians in the most sensitive and volatile area of the occupied West Bank.

The U.S. called the move a "provocation" and a violation of commitments given to the U.S. by the Israeli government.

Behind the scenes: Herzog was summoned on short notice for a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, two Israeli and U.S. sources said.

The last time an Israeli ambassador was summoned to the State Department was in 2010 when Israel approved a new building in an East Jerusalem settlement during then-Vice President Biden's visit to the country.

Sherman and Herzog's meeting was very tough, with Sherman saying the new law is a violation of the commitment the Israeli government made to the U.S., Egypt and Jordan just last Sunday during the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, a source with knowledge of the meeting said. That commitment included avoiding steps that could escalate the situation in the West Bank. 

What they're saying: The summoning of Herzog was "a result of the Israelis going too far — the judicial overhaul, Smotrich and now this law — it was just too much," a U.S. official told Axios.

An Israeli official claimed the summoning wasn't a sign of a crisis but just a way for the State Department to reiterate its concerns

Netanyahu on Wednesday pushed back on the Biden administration’s criticism, saying the new law “brings to an end to a discriminatory and humiliating law that barred Jews from living in areas in northern Samaria, part of our historic homeland."

At the same time, the Prime Minister’s Office stressed that the government has no intention of establishing new settlements in the parts of the West Bank the new law addresses.

What to watch: Netanyahu is a veteran of dealing with tensions and crises with a Democratic president after eight years of working with the Obama administration.

Some of his aides recently started using a phrase reminiscent of the Obama-era days. “Let's talk again in 2024," one aide told Axios, hinting at the next U.S. presidential election.

"wipe out" the Palestinian village of Hawara

Palestinian people were “an invention”

A rare U.S. rebuke of one of its closest allies came after weeks of bubbling tensions between the two countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Top Stories

U.S.-Israeli relations are in full crisis mode less than three months after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Benjamin Netanyahu" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/netanyahu-bibi-chaos-judicial-overhaul-month" data-vars-content-id="6283c1c6-a2d8-4841-946f-d41914d46c3a" data-vars-headline="U.S.-Israel relations in crisis mode as tensions boil over" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/netanyahu-bibi-chaos-judicial-overhaul-month" target="_self">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> returned to the Israeli Prime Minister&#x27;s Office.Driving the news: The U.S. summoned Israeli Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog on Tuesday to protest an Israeli law passed earlier that day that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="repealed the 2005 Israeli disengagement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/21/biden-israeli-law-repeal-northern-west-bank" data-vars-content-id="6283c1c6-a2d8-4841-946f-d41914d46c3a" data-vars-headline="U.S.-Israel relations in crisis mode as tensions boil over" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/21/biden-israeli-law-repeal-northern-west-bank" target="_self">repealed the 2005 Israeli disengagement</a> from the northern occupied West Bank.

A group of Jewish Democratic members of Congress held a tough meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog two weeks ago and expressed grave concern about the Netanyahu government’s plan to weaken the Supreme Court, two Israeli officials briefed on the meeting and two members of Congress who attended the meeting told Axios.

Why it matters: The private meeting reflected the high level of anxiety among Democrats who are staunch supporters of Israel and represent large Jewish constituencies about the judicial overhaul plan and how it could affect the U.S.-Israel relationship.

It also echoed similar concerns expressed by the Biden administration over what the plan could mean for Israel's democracy. President Biden expressed concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. 

Catch up quick: The judicial overhaul plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and prompted protests, including within the ranks of the Israeli military, against Netanyahu's government.

Behind the scenes: The meeting, which included more than 20 Democrats, included harsh criticism over the plan, according to the two Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the meeting. 

One member of Congress who attended the meeting told Axios that the discussion was “frank and candid” with all the attendees expressing concerns that reflected what many are hearing from their Jewish constituents. It "was not argumentative," the lawmaker said. 

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), who helped organize the meeting, described it as "emotional."

"We did raise the specter that some of the changes being discussed, if taken to their extreme, could have an adverse impact on Israeli democracy," Schneider said, stressing that those who attended the meeting have a very close connection to Israel and a strong commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship. 

"There is a special aspect to Israel as the democratic Jewish state. And that has always had a special place in the U.S.-Israel relationship," he told Axios.

Schneider added that the members of Congress didn’t give the Israeli ambassador an “if, then” threat but stressed that if the judicial overhaul plan is implemented without changes, it will be harder “to talk about Israel in the same way."

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) stressed during the meeting that he has heard concerns from every corner of the Jewish community in his district and added that his constituents are alarmed by these reforms and their potential harm to Israeli democracy, a congressional aide with knowledge of the meeting said.

The aide added that other lawmakers expressed concerns that moving forward with these judicial reforms could have negative consequences for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

A member of Congress who attended the meeting, but asked to remain anonymous, said the attendees raised concerns that the judicial plan would hamper the independence of the Israeli Supreme Court and, as a result, there will be fewer protections for the rights of minorities.

"The ambassador listened very carefully and committed that he would take all of our concerns back directly to the prime minister," the member of Congress said. 

"There were members in the room who represented … significant Jewish populations within their districts and they wanted to make sure that the prime minister understood that this is not a few lone voices and that many members of the Jewish community across the country are deeply concerned," the lawmaker said.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

What to watch: The Netanyahu government announced on Monday it will move ahead with one of the key elements of the judicial plan, which includes changing the process of appointing judges and giving the government full control over Supreme Court appointments.

If implemented, it will be the first time since the committee was formed in 1953 that Supreme Court judges will be appointed by only politicians from the coalition.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that one lawmaker (not two) told Axios the discussion with Herzog was "frank and candid" with all the attendees expressing concerns that reflected what many are hearing from their Jewish constituents.

The Jewish lawmakers expressed concerns they and their constituents have about Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan.

Rep. Brad Schneider. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A group of Jewish Democratic members of Congress held a tough meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog two weeks ago and expressed grave concern about the Netanyahu government’s plan to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weaken the Supreme Court" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/19/biden-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul-phone-call" data-vars-content-id="b526c09f-e084-4ddd-86da-a83aac57ea3d" data-vars-headline="Scoop: U.S. Dem lawmakers hold &quot;emotional&quot; meeting with Israeli ambassador" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/19/biden-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul-phone-call" target="_self">weaken the Supreme Court</a>, two Israeli officials briefed on the meeting and two members of Congress who attended the meeting told Axios.Why it matters: The private meeting reflected the high level of anxiety among Democrats who are staunch supporters of Israel and represent large Jewish constituencies about the judicial overhaul plan and how it could affect the U.S.-Israel relationship.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Israel told the Biden administration and several European countries that Iran would be entering dangerous territory that could trigger an Israeli military strike if it enriches uranium above the 60% level, a senior Israeli official told Axios.

The big picture: Increasingly concerned about advances in Iran's nuclear program, Israel has in recent months ramped up its private and public threats of military action against Tehran in an apparent attempt to deter the country from escalating its nuclear program even further, according to Israeli officials. 

State of play: Iran has amassed 87.5 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency report from late February. Experts say that if that uranium is enriched to 90% weapons grade, it would be a sufficient quantity to produce at least one nuclear bomb. 

The IAEA is continuing to investigate Iranian activity in its underground nuclear facility in Fordow, which included enriching at least small amounts of uranium to 84% purity.

Israel, however, doesn't consider the small amounts of uranium enriched at 84% purity as meaningful because Tehran didn't amass any of the material at that level, the Israeli official said.

A top U.S. defense official told lawmakers last month that Iran will need only 12 days to enrich enough weapons-grade uranium to build one nuclear bomb, though the U.S. has also said it doesn't believe Iran has made the decision to resume its weaponization program.

Behind the scenes: The Israeli government is not defining a public “red line” at the moment as Netanyahu did in his UN speech in September 2012, the senior Israeli official said. 

The official added that Israel didn’t want to set 90% enrichment as a “red line” because officials believe Iran will feel it can begin enriching and amassing uranium at a level just short of weapons grade.

That is why Israel is telling U.S. and European countries that any Iranian progress above 60% enrichment would be a step that could trigger military action against Tehran's nuclear program, the Israeli official said.

Israeli officials believe that Netanyahu's message on the issue has been passed on to Iranian officials, according to a second senior Israeli official, who recently spoke to reporters on background. “The Iranians totally internalized our position and they know what our [red] line is," the official said.

What to watch: The Israeli government is continuing to prepare for a possible military strike in Iran, Israeli officials said.

Two Israeli officials said Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asked U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his recent visit to Israel to expedite the delivery of the four KC-46 tankers that Israel had purchased from the U.S. last year.

The officials said Israel needs the tankers, which are used for air refueling, to prepare for a possible military strike in Iran. Israel wants to get at least some of them by the end of 2024.

During the previous Israeli government’s term, then-Defense Minister Benny Gantz had also asked Austin to expedite the delivery of the tankers.

The officials said Austin told Netanyahu and Gallant that the U.S. will try to deliver the planes earlier but stressed it will be difficult due to U.S. military needs.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect Lloyd Austin is the U.S. secretary of defense (not secretary of state).

“The Iranians totally internalized our position and they know what our [red] line is," the official said.

The flags of Iran and Israel outside the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Photo: Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images

Israel told the Biden administration and several European countries that Iran would be entering dangerous territory that could trigger an Israeli military strike if it enriches uranium above the 60% level, a senior Israeli official told Axios.The big picture: Increasingly concerned about advances in<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Iran&#x27;s nuclear program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/01/israeli-officials-visit-us-iran-nuclear-advancement" data-vars-content-id="b545814b-62e6-4bee-90f5-541052249caa" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Iran enriching uranium above 60% could trigger strike, Israeli official says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/01/israeli-officials-visit-us-iran-nuclear-advancement" target="_self"> Iran&#x27;s nuclear program</a>, Israel has in recent months ramped up its private and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public threats" data-vars-click-url="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-huddles-with-military-top-brass-as-israel-looks-to-rattle-some-sabers/" data-vars-content-id="b545814b-62e6-4bee-90f5-541052249caa" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Iran enriching uranium above 60% could trigger strike, Israeli official says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-huddles-with-military-top-brass-as-israel-looks-to-rattle-some-sabers/" target="_blank">public threats</a> of military action against Tehran in an apparent attempt to deter the country from escalating its nuclear program even further, according to Israeli officials.

The Biden administration harshly criticized an Israeli law passed on Monday in the Israeli Knesset that repeals the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the northern occupied West Bank, calling it a "provocation" and a violation of commitments Israel made to the U.S. 

Why it matters: The law allows Israeli citizens to enter the area between the cities of Jenin and Nablus, which Israeli settlers evacuated in 2005. The law could dramatically increase the potential for friction between settlers and Palestinians in the most sensitive and volatile area of the occupied West Bank. 

Flashback: During the 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza, Israel also evacuated four settlements in the northern West Bank and banned Israelis from entering the area. 

In return, the Bush administration agreed to recognize that the big settlement blocks in the West Bank adjacent to the 1967 lines would stay part of Israel in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.

This understanding between then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and then-President George W. Bush was enshrined in an official exchange of letters between the two governments.

Behind the scenes: The law wasn’t pushed by the government but was a private bill initiated by Yuli Adelstein, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud who is the chair of the Knesset foreign relation and security committee.

Although the bill has significant national security and foreign policy implications, the Israeli security cabinet hasn’t held any known discussions about it.

Israeli defense officials told Adelstein the Israeli military opposed the law warned of its security implications.

The Biden administration, which has been focused on the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting earlier this week and efforts to reduce tensions ahead of Ramadan and the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul, started pressing the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office hard on Monday to postpone the vote, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

At this point, it was too late to stop the vote or postpone it. A European diplomat said the U.S. and several European countries pressed the Prime Minister’s Office simultaneously, but officials were told the law is part of Netanyahu’s commitment to his coalition partners.

What they're saying: State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said at the start of the daily briefing that the Biden administration is extremely troubled by the law and the fact it could lead to the rebuilding of settlements and outposts in this area.

Patel said the law was a violation of the written commitment late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave then-President Bush in 2005. He added it is a violation of the commitment the current Israeli government made just last Sunday during a security summit in Sharm el-Sheikh to refrain from taking unilateral steps that could escalate the situation in the occupied West Bank.

Patel said the law is even more problematic because of its timing – shortly before Ramadan and Passover. “This law is provocative and counterproductive to the efforts to reduce tensions ahead of Ramadan and Passover," he said.

He called on the Israeli government to refrain from allowing settlers to return to the area covered by this legislation.

What to watch: Patel told reporters the Biden administration is considering several options it could take to respond to the Israeli government policy in the West Bank.

U.S. slams new West Bank law, says it's a violation of Israeli commitments

The Biden administration called it a "provocation."

Israeli right-wing activists and settlers take part in a protest march at the West Bank outpost of Homesh in Dec. 2021. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images

The Biden administration harshly criticized an Israeli law passed on Monday in the Israeli Knesset that repeals the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the northern occupied West Bank, calling it a &quot;provocation&quot; and a violation of commitments Israel made to the U.S. Why it matters: The law allows Israeli citizens to enter the area between the cities of Jenin and Nablus, which Israeli settlers evacuated in 2005. The law could dramatically increase the potential for friction between settlers and Palestinians in the most sensitive and volatile area of the occupied West Bank.

Barak Ravid

Stories

Scoop: U.S. Dem lawmakers hold "emotional" meeting with Israeli ambassador

Scoop: Israel sees opportunity in Iran-Saudi deal, Israeli official says

Scoop: Iran enriching uranium above 60% could trigger strike, Israeli official says

U.S.-Israel relations in crisis mode as tensions boil over

U.S. slams new West Bank law, says it's a violation of Israeli commitments

Newsletter editions

Axios from Tel Aviv: U.S.-Israel crisis

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Axios from Tel Aviv: Protests rock IDF

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Axios from Tel Aviv: 🇺🇦 Inside Israel’s failed mediation