As if Netanyahu -- or any other Israeli leader -- would give two flips about "Gaza's impact on [Biden's] re-election chances" compared to Israel's long-term security. From Axios today:
Chaser:
“I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.” — Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Joe Biden
“Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f__k things up.” — Former president Barack Obama on Joe Biden
President Biden — increasingly nervous about Gaza's impact on his re-election chances — pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week to quickly scale down military operations, Axios' Barak Ravid scoops.
• Why it matters: Biden's comments during the two leaders' call last Friday reflect growing U.S. concern about the continuation of the war and the president's desire to see it end well before the November elections.
Biden stressed in his call with Netanyahu that he's not in it for a year of war, two U.S. officials told Axios.
• A Biden adviser told Axios that the White House is very concerned about losing young voters, who are increasingly opposed to the president's policies on the Gaza war.
• A source close to the White House said Biden can't have the war — and the growing death toll — continue to dominate the news cycle as the election gets closer.
🔎 Behind the scenes: At least a third of Biden's 40-minute call with Netanyahu focused on the Israeli timetable for moving to low-intensity operations across the Gaza Strip and Israel's war strategy as a whole, one U.S. official said.
• Netanyahu had said a day earlier that the war would continue for "many more months." Speaking to the Israeli leader about that comment, Biden urged Netanyahu to move faster.
🔎 Between the lines: Biden has become increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu in recent weeks.
• The call a week ago between the two leaders was their first in nearly a month. During their previous call on Dec. 23, a frustrated Biden ended the call by saying the "conversation is over" and hanging up the phone.
• In the first two months of the war, the two leaders had talked almost every other day.
Chaser:
“I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.” — Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Joe Biden
“Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f__k things up.” — Former president Barack Obama on Joe Biden
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