In recent days, the Biden administration has significantly sharpened its statements against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel’s policies. In an unusual personal criticism, President Biden stated on March 9 that Prime Minister Netanyahu was doing “more harm than good to Israel and its interests.” In a clear attempt to speak directly to the people of Israel and bypass the prime minister, the US president expressed interest in addressing the Knesset. Biden did indeed repeat his position that Israel has “a right to continue to pursue Hamas,” but he stressed that an Israeli operation in Rafah would constitute a “redline,” but it is impossible for “30,000 more Palestinians dead as a consequence of going after—there’s other ways to deal with the trauma caused by Hamas.” At the same time, Biden emphasized “that I’m never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there’s no redline where I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them.” The president rejected the claim that many US voters believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and that this was the message voters sent him in the recent primaries.
These words of the president came in the wake of the State of the Union speech in Congress, in which he stated that the two-state solution is “the only real solution” and the only way that guarantees Israel’s security and democracy, that the Palestinians can live in peace and dignity, and that Israel can live in peace with all its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. The president emphasized that he is working to achieve a hostage deal and a six-week ceasefire and that he is in contact with Arab leaders, including Saudi Arabia, who are “prepared to fully recognize Israel and begin to rebuild the region . . . what comes after Gaza. It’s a tough decision, but there’s a lot that can be done.”
The president has also stated that Hamas can bring an immediate end to the war if it releases the hostages and lays down its weapons. As Biden stated, Israel “has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards,” but Israel has a basic responsibility to protect innocent lives. Most of the 30,000 dead in Gaza are not, according to Biden, identified with Hamas; many thousands are women and children, orphans, and about two million Palestinians live under attack, or have fled from their homes.
The harsh criticism by the US administration reflects its growing frustration and even anger in the face of what it perceives as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to respond to US demands and in becoming an obstacle to progress. The president’s continued support for Israel stands out, and his determination—even in the face of harsh criticism by some wings of his party—not to use the weapons supply as a means of influencing Israeli policy also remains firm. However, the collapse of the efforts for a hostage deal and the subsequent escalation of the fighting, including its expansion into the Rafah area, may accelerate a change in the administration’s position, including a decision to use political levers (promoting a resolution in the UN Security Council on a ceasefire) and military ones (reducing the transfer of military aid and/or expanding the restrictions on its use)
In recent days, the Biden administration has significantly sharpened its statements against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel’s policies. In an unusual personal criticism, President Biden stated on March 9 that Prime Minister Netanyahu was doing “more harm than good to Israel and its interests.” In a clear attempt to speak directly to the people of Israel and bypass the prime minister, the US president expressed interest in addressing the Knesset. Biden did indeed repeat his position that Israel has “a right to continue to pursue Hamas,” but he stressed that an Israeli operation in Rafah would constitute a “redline,” but it is impossible for “30,000 more Palestinians dead as a consequence of going after—there’s other ways to deal with the trauma caused by Hamas.” At the same time, Biden emphasized “that I’m never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there’s no redline where I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them.” The president rejected the claim that many US voters believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and that this was the message voters sent him in the recent primaries.
These words of the president came in the wake of the State of the Union speech in Congress, in which he stated that the two-state solution is “the only real solution” and the only way that guarantees Israel’s security and democracy, that the Palestinians can live in peace and dignity, and that Israel can live in peace with all its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. The president emphasized that he is working to achieve a hostage deal and a six-week ceasefire and that he is in contact with Arab leaders, including Saudi Arabia, who are “prepared to fully recognize Israel and begin to rebuild the region . . . what comes after Gaza. It’s a tough decision, but there’s a lot that can be done.”
The president has also stated that Hamas can bring an immediate end to the war if it releases the hostages and lays down its weapons. As Biden stated, Israel “has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards,” but Israel has a basic responsibility to protect innocent lives. Most of the 30,000 dead in Gaza are not, according to Biden, identified with Hamas; many thousands are women and children, orphans, and about two million Palestinians live under attack, or have fled from their homes.
The harsh criticism by the US administration reflects its growing frustration and even anger in the face of what it perceives as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to respond to US demands and in becoming an obstacle to progress. The president’s continued support for Israel stands out, and his determination—even in the face of harsh criticism by some wings of his party—not to use the weapons supply as a means of influencing Israeli policy also remains firm. However, the collapse of the efforts for a hostage deal and the subsequent escalation of the fighting, including its expansion into the Rafah area, may accelerate a change in the administration’s position, including a decision to use political levers (promoting a resolution in the UN Security Council on a ceasefire) and military ones (reducing the transfer of military aid and/or expanding the restrictions on its use)