Biden's Mideast Policy: A Misalignment with Israel's United Front
Political and War Planning is Unified in Israel, Despite US trying to force pretend reality on the Jewish State ......
by ML SHAW
In the wake of the October 7th attacks, the worst in Israel's history, the Biden administration's approach to the Middle East, its stance on Israel and the ongoing conflict with Hamas, has come under scrutiny. The attacks, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and a subsequent military response against Hamas in Gaza, have tested the resilience of the Israeli state but also the diplomatic acumen of the United States under President Biden.
President Biden's worldview, shaped by decades of foreign policy experience, seems increasingly out of sync with the current geopolitical realities in the Middle East, especially in light of recent events. The Biden administration's response to the crisis, while supportive of Israel's right to defend itself, has also been marked by attempts to moderate Israel's military actions and encourage a ceasefire. This stance has led to criticism from various quarters, suggesting the U.S. is trying to force Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a corner, potentially provoking a leadership change in Israel for a softening of its war on Hamas.
Yet Biden fails to call to mind when the US was unified after the Sept. 11th attack; and how far it took that mandate against its enemies. The administration is tone deaf when it carries the fictional notion of a two-state solution and worse tries to scramble to make it happen when it is the worst possible time. While it is true Israel’s world image has been dragged down the longer the war goes on; the State of Israel is unified in that one way or another Hamas must be brought to heal and pay for their horrific actions on Oct 7th.
In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the United States experienced a rare moment of national unity. Political leaders and citizens alike rallied around the flag and the President, with George W. Bush's approval ratings soaring to 90 percent. This unity was symbolized by bipartisan gatherings, such as members of Congress standing together on the Capitol steps, singing "God Bless America". The public largely set aside political differences, and there was a significant increase in trust in the federal government, which jumped from 30 percent before the attacks to 64 percent shortly after. Displays of patriotism were widespread, with 79 percent of adults saying they had displayed an American flag.
However, this unity was short-lived. As the initial shock of the attacks wore off, older patterns of partisanship reemerged, and new divisions over issues like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the treatment of detainees, and domestic security measures began to surface. By the summer of 2002, trust in government had fallen back to 39 percent, and by 2005, America was described as "more divided and more partisan than I’ve ever seen us," according to then-Senator John McCain
Comparing this to the current situation in Israel, where the political spectrum has unified behind its leader in response to the October 7th attacks, the contrast is stark. In Israel, the emergency has transcended political divisions, with the entire political realm supporting the government's actions against Hamas, regardless of who is in power.
This is reminiscent of the initial unity in the U.S. post-9/11, but unlike the U.S., where unity faded relatively quickly, Israel's unity appears to be holding firm in the face of existential threats. The key value takeaway is Israel’s existence is threatened no matter who the palestinians’ leadership is. That is where we sit today and for the next several months.
The Biden administration's approach to the situation in Israel, however, seems to be at odds with this unified Israeli stance. While the U.S. initially experienced a similar rallying effect post-9/11, the current administration's attempts to moderate Israel's response to the attacks and encourage a ceasefire may be perceived as out of touch with the reality on the ground in Israel. The administration's efforts to potentially influence Israeli politics and provoke a leadership change for a softer approach to Hamas conflict with the broad consensus within Israel on the need for strong security measures.
The Biden administration's approach may not fully appreciate the depth of Israeli unity and resolve in the face of the worst attack in its history. This misalignment could be seen as a reflection of a worldview that does not fully align with the current geopolitical realities faced by Israel, much like the fleeting unity in the U.S. post-9/11.
The formation of an emergency unity government in Israel, including opposition politicians, in response to the Hamas attack, underscores the national consensus on the need to address the security threat posed by Hamas decisively. This unity reflects a broad agreement across the Israeli political spectrum that the steps Israel is taking now would likely be no different under any other leader, whether Netanyahu or not. The suggestion that the Biden administration is acting as if it can influence Israeli domestic politics to achieve a more moderate approach to the conflict with Hamas seems misplaced.
The Biden administration's approach to the conflict has been characterized by a complex balancing act: providing Israel with significant military aid and diplomatic backing at the United Nations while expressing concern over civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This dual approach reflects an attempt to support Israel's security needs while also addressing the broader implications of the conflict on U.S. interests and values in the region.
Critics argue that the Biden administration's stance, particularly its emphasis on a ceasefire and humanitarian concerns, may inadvertently undermine Israel's efforts to decisively counter the threat posed by Hamas. They contend that the administration's approach fails to fully appreciate the existential nature of the threat Hamas poses to Israel and the expectations of the Israeli public and its leaders for a definitive resolution to the security challenges emanating from Gaza.
The administration's complex policy strategy reflects the challenges of navigating a multifaceted foreign policy in a volatile region.
source:
[1] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/bidens-dangerous-stance-on-the-war-in-israel-and-gaza/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-nears-forming-emergency-government-after-hamas-attack-2023-10-10/
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/07/state-union-biden-israel-gaza-policy-message-reset/
[4] https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/06/10-things-know-bidens-approach-israeli-palestinian-conflict
[5] https://thehill.com/policy/4249998-israel-forms-emergency-unity-government-in-response-to-hamas-attacks/
[6] https://time.com/6340511/biden-israel-history/
[7] https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/08/middle-east-peace-the-biden-administrations-approach.html
[8] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/13/israel-unity-government
[9] https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/biden-warns-netanyahu-an-assault-on-rafah-would-cross-red-line-c78677ba
[10] https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/13/biden-israel-palestinian-statehood-grand-deal-middle-east-saudi-arabia-gaza-hamas/
[11] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-forms-unity-government-war-hamas-attack/
[12] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/18/joe-biden-peace-mission-israel-us-influence-middle-east
[13] https://apnews.com/article/biden-netanyahu-red-line-frustration-gaza-0f23fa8d02288c1b9d862ddc4035872e
[14] https://www.npr.org/2023/11/20/1214109060/can-the-unity-in-israel-s-parliament-last-as-the-war-in-gaza-goes-on
[15] https://themedialine.org/top-stories/bidens-approach-to-middle-east-markedly-different-from-trumps-experts-say/
[16] https://www.csis.org/analysis/hamas-and-israel-current-situation-and-looking-ahead
[17] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/10/biden-netanyahu-red-line-frustration-gaza/f940eef0-df16-11ee-95aa-7384336086f3_story.html
[18] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/12/israel-unity-government-netanyahu-gantz/
[19] https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-the-biden-administration-defends-its-israel-policy
[20] https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/01/07/israeli-government-shows-unity-in-response-to-hezbollah-provocations/