“Some critics, like Mr. Smotrich, for example, have claimed that the hostage deal is a surrender to Hamas or that hostages should not be exchanged for prisoners,” Mr. Kirby said at the start of a briefing for reporters.
Mr. Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister and a far-right ally, have threatened to quit Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition if he signs a deal ending the war.
But whether it could help Mr. Netanyahu to have the Americans weigh in on his domestic politics was not as clear.
“The idea that he would support a deal that leaves Israel’s security at risk is just factually wrong,” Mr. Kirby said of the president.
“He won’t allow extremists to blow things off course — including extremists in Israel making these ridiculous charges against the deal,” he said.
Persons:
”, Biden’s, John F, Kirby, Biden, Bezalel Smotrich, Smotrich, Mr, “ Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Mr, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Biden administration’s pushback, Netanyahu, “, he’s
Organizations:
White, Hamas, ISIS
Locations:
U.S, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Iran