Aug. 20, 2024 (EIRNS)—Washington attempted to placate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, assuring him that his avowed concern over the smuggling of weapons through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza did not mean that Israeli troops had to be exempted from an agreed-upon withdrawal and ceasefire, and had to stay on duty on the Gaza border. Rather, the U.S. would offer to patrol the border, along with Egypt. Never mind that Netanyahu was, yet again, putting up one more barrier to any agreement to return the hostages and begin a ceasefire—a barrier to be replaced by another, if circumstances dictated.