2024.03.05 18:05World eye

米副大統領「ガザ人道状況に深い懸念」 イスラエル戦時内閣ガンツ氏と会談

【ワシントンAFP=時事】カマラ・ハリス米副大統領は4日、イスラエル戦時内閣メンバーでベンヤミン・ネタニヤフ首相の最大のライバルとされるベニー・ガンツ前国防相とホワイトハウスで会談し、パレスチナ自治区ガザ地区の人道状況に「深い懸念」を表明した。(写真はカマラ・ハリス米副大統領との会談を終え、ホワイトハウスを後にするイスラエルの戦時内閣メンバー、ベニー・ガンツ前国防相<左>)
 ガンツ氏は元軍参謀総長で、政治的には中道。両者の会談は、ネタニヤフ首相率いる右派政権によるガザ侵攻の進め方に対する米政権内の不満の高まりや、イスラエル政府内の分断を浮き彫りにする形となった。
 昨年10月7日のハマスによるイスラエル奇襲後、野党を離党して戦時内閣に合流したガンツ氏は、人質解放や紛争からの出口戦略をめぐりネタニヤフ首相と対立してきた。
 ガンツ氏はホワイトハウス入りに先立ち、「友人とは常に率直に話すべきであり、そうするつもりだ」と語った。米滞在中にジェイク・サリバン大統領補佐官(国家安全保障問題担当)やアントニー・ブリンケン国務長官とも会談する予定。
 一方ホワイトハウスは、ガンツ氏との一連の会談によってネタニヤフ首相との緊張関係が悪化する恐れがあるとの見方を否定。会談の要請はガンツ氏側からあったと述べた。
 専門家やイスラエルメディアは、ガンツ氏がここ数週間、ネタニヤフ首相に対して紛争の出口戦略の策定を迫っていると伝えている。軍事的圧力によってのみ人質返還は実現するとするネタニヤフ氏の姿勢を、ガンツ氏は否定している。
 ガンツ氏の訪米について、イスラエルのドゥディ・アンセレム地域協力相はX(旧ツイッター)への投稿で「ガンツ氏、あなたの政権入りは非常時に結束を高めるためであって、トロイの木馬になるためではない」と批判した。【翻訳編集AFPBBNews】
〔AFP=時事〕(2024/03/05-18:05)
2024.03.05 18:05World eye

US VP voices Gaza concerns in talks with Netanyahu rival


US Vice President Kamala Harris expressed deep concern over the situation faced by Gaza's civilians in talks Monday with Benny Gantz, an Israeli war cabinet member and top rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A day after she delivered some of the most stinging US criticism of Israel since the war began, Harris called for Israel to let in more aid to the Palestinian territory, while also urging Hamas to accept a six-week ceasefire deal.
The meeting with Gantz, a centrist former military chief, underscored growing frustration from the White House at the way Netanyahu's right-wing government is pursuing the war, which has left tens of thousands of dead and created a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
It also highlighted divisions in the Israeli government.
Gantz, who left the political opposition to join the war cabinet after Hamas's October 7 attacks, has been at odds with Netanyahu on freeing hostages and finding an exit strategy from the conflict.
The vice president expressed her deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Harris's office said in a statement, adding that she urged Israel to take additional measures to increase the flow of aid.
She called on Hamas to accept the terms on the table, the statement added.
US President Joe Biden faces acute political pressure in an election year over the Democrat's steadfast support for Israel amid Gaza's soaring civilian death toll, which the health ministry there has put at 30,534, mostly women and children.
Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas after its unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Israel has said it believes 130 of the original 250 captives taken by Hamas in the attack remain held in the besieged territory, but that 31 have been killed.
Gantz, who is also meeting with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said on the way into the White House that with friends, we should always speak openly, and that's what we're going to do.
- 'No excuses' -
The White House played down suggestions the talks could exacerbate tensions with Netanyahu, saying Gantz had requested the meeting while passing through Washington.
Israel had also presented a forward leaning proposal for the ceasefire which it was now up to Hamas to accept, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday.
A ceasefire would be a major domestic win for Biden to be able to trumpet during his State of the Union speech on Thursday.
On Sunday Harris, 59, called for an immediate ceasefire, using unusually strong language to say Israel had no excuses for not letting in more aid.
The next day she denied any discord between herself and Biden, 81, as her remarks went further than the president had previously gone in criticizing Israel.
The president and I have been aligned and consistent from the very beginning, Harris told reporters.
A Netanyahu critic often touted as a possible replacement should the Israeli prime minister fall, Gantz joined the five-person war cabinet formed after October 7 in a bid to project unity in the country.
But in recent weeks he has pressed Netanyahu on an exit strategy for the war, analysts and Israeli media reports say, with the former defense minister and chief of staff of the armed forces rejecting Netanyahu's stance that only military pressure on Hamas will allow the return of hostages.
Gantz's US visit was criticized by Doudi Amsellem, Israel's minister of regional cooperation, in a post on social media platform X that said: Mr. Gantz, your entry into government was intended to create unity at a time of emergency, not to be a Trojan horse.
burs-dk/nro

最新ニュース

写真特集

最新動画