With Allies Like These…

“Now, as the war killing thousands extends deep into a second month, the man known as ‘the Magician’ for slipping out of political traps is trying to wriggle loose again by directly confronting the United States and, according to one former and one current U.S. official, angering the Biden administration.” Noga Tarnopolsky: Bibi Bites Back. “To help himself at home, Israel’s deeply unpopular leader has begun openly defying Biden and the US.”

+ It looks like Bibi has the majority of his government (sans the far right) ready to approve what could be an imminent hostage deal. It’s notable that Hamas still has so much negotiating power after weeks of an onslaught that has killed so many civilians. Here’s the latest from CNN, BBC, and Times of Israel.