The U.S. Threatens Israel over an Imaginary Famine

Because of the Sukkot holiday, the death of Yahya Sinwar, the attack on Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence (see below), and other developments, it’s easy to forget some of last week’s events. One that certainly deserves further attention is a leaked October 13 letter to Israel from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense of Lloyd Austin, accusing it (based on highly dubious evidence) of having “contributed to starvation and widespread suffering” in Gaza, and “particularly in the enclave’s north,” where the IDF has renewed intensive activity. The letter threatens the cutting off of the resupply of munitions if Jerusalem doesn’t take appropriate steps within 30 days. Noah Rothman argues that the Biden administration is presenting Israel with “an impossible conundrum.”