2024-02-11 16:55:49
Will Biden and Netanyahu’s disagreements force Washington to recalculate?
Public criticism issued by the American administration of the government and statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated, and it became clear that Netanyahu is very stubbornly defying American advice and the American vision in general to conclude a deal to recover the hostages, or set a vision for a timetable to end the war or a vision for the followingmath of the war, and Netanyahu adamantly refuses. The American proposal for a two-state solution.
For months, American officials tried to pressure the Netanyahu government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, but they faced repeated resistance with his refusal to negotiate a ceasefire and his insistence on continuing the war until Hamas was eliminated, amid growing American doubts regarding his ability to achieve this. the goal.
Several reports indicate that US President Joe Biden’s patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is running out (AP)
US President Joe Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu became clear last Thursday, when he said that the Israeli military strikes in Gaza had exceeded all limits, and the response was “excessive.” It is the harshest rebuke and criticism that Biden has directed at Netanyahu to date.
During the press conference, Thursday evening, Biden stressed that he is pressing hard to reach a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and that he is working tirelessly to advance this deal that might lead to a permanent cessation of fighting in the Gaza Strip. He said: “I believe that if we are able to reach [وقف إطلاق النار]”We will be able to extend it so that we can increase the likelihood of changing this fighting in Gaza.”
Repeated situation
Netanyahu angered American officials several times and on different occasions. During Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s previous visits, he returned with a secret of nostalgia following the Israeli rejection of American proposals, the most recent of which was Blinken’s fifth visit to the region, in which he tried to mediate an agreement leading to a ceasefire and the release of… Hostages.
Blinken with Netanyahu on his recent visit to Israel (Reuters)
After American officials, along with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, spent a lot of time and effort developing a detailed vision regarding a three-stage deal that would lead to a three-month ceasefire, and include the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, he delivered Netanyahu rejected the deal, rejecting all of its provisions, and insisted on continuing the war until victory was achieved, in defiance of the American administration.
US intelligence reports cast doubt on Netanyahu’s ability to achieve his goal of destroying Hamas following more than 4 months of military operations.
American and international rejection
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is making plans to transfer Palestinians from the city of Rafah to the northern Gaza Strip (dpa)
Netanyahu continues to defy American and UN warnings, and all the warnings of regional powers in the region, by announcing that the Israeli army will move to Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. It is a step that the White House explicitly declared its opposition to. John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, warned Israel once morest launching a military attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, describing the attempt as “disastrous.”
The United Nations, relief agencies, the international community and regional powers warned once morest this attack, which will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also warned of very serious repercussions, and called for an urgent meeting of the Security Council. Egypt threatened to suspend the peace treaty it concluded with Israel in 1979, following repeated Egyptian warnings once morest Israel’s attempts to use methods of forced deportation and displacement of Palestinians to cross the Egyptian border. While the Hamas movement confirmed that any attack on the city of Rafah means torpedoing the negotiations.
CIA Director William Burns is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Tuesday to continue hostage negotiations with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Israel.
Insistence on invading Rafah
Displaced Palestinians and large population crowding in the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt (Reuters)
Experts say that Netanyahu’s attempt to carry out the attack on Rafah will further deepen the dispute with the Biden administration. It appears that Netanyahu is trying to maneuver and circumvent American warnings. He told Israeli Channel 12 that he is making plans to transfer the Palestinians in Rafah to other places in the northern Gaza Strip, without To explain the details of these plans. He told the American ABC network on Sunday morning: “Those who say that we should not enter Rafah under any circumstances are basically saying, lose the war, and keep Hamas there.”
The position of the American press
The Washington Post says that President Biden and his senior aides have become closer to breaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than at any time since the beginning of the war once morest Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It quoted six officials familiar with the talks between the two sides, saying that administration officials no longer view Netanyahu as a “partner who can be influenced,” which prompted Biden’s aides to urge him to be more critical and publicly of Netanyahu.
The Boston Globe newspaper says that Benjamin Netanyahu “wants to launch a long-term military campaign to make people forget and overlook his failures,” and that he is deceiving Biden, and the US administration must withhold all its military support until Israel stops its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.
American pressure papers
Analysts say that Netanyahu’s refusal to listen to the Biden administration’s advice shows that the US administration is “complicated and pathetically weak.”
The United States has many pressure cards, and it can – if it wants – exploit them to the fullest, especially with regard to military aid to Israel.
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders led the campaign to demand restrictions on military aid to Israel, so that it responds to American advice, but the White House rejected calls to withhold military aid or impose conditions on it, on the grounds that this would encourage Israel’s enemies.
Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Yunis and appears from a camp housing displaced Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (Reuters)
However, NBC quoted Pentagon officials as saying that the White House requested a review of the weapons requested by Israel, and this review means “evaluating how to benefit from arms shipments to impose an end to the war.”
There are also diplomatic pressure cards that Washington is already considering. The Axios website indicated that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken requested a review of political options regarding possible American and international recognition of the Palestinian state following the end of the war. Among the diplomatic options is for the United States to abstain from voting in the Security Council on any resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the Israeli war on Gaza. Although some experts rule out that the United States will take this step – which would be considered a clear American abandonment of Israel – they say that it is “an option that can be waved around” until the Netanyahu government responds to American advice.
President Biden is known to be one of the most supportive of Israel. He is the author of the famous saying: “If Israel did not exist, we would have invented it in the Middle East.” He often recounted his memories and close relationships with members of successive Israeli governments.
Biden’s advisors say that despite some American statements critical of the Israeli Prime Minister, the American strategy regarding supporting Israel and its right to defend its security has not changed. White House officials point to the difference between Biden’s strong support for Israel and criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Overthrow of Netanyahu
Activists in Tel Aviv demand new elections, raising a banner once morest Netanyahu that says: “Why are you still here and the hostages are not?” (dad)
Three American officials spoke to NBC News and indicated that the Biden administration is looking beyond Netanyahu to achieve its goals in the region, and is discussing with other Israeli leaders and civil society leaders “in anticipation of the eventual formation of a post-Netanyahu government.” They pointed to Blinken’s discussions during his recent visit with members of the Israeli war cabinet and other Israeli leaders, including opposition leader Yair Lapid.
It is no secret that Netanyahu is facing pressure and anger from the families of dozens of hostages who are still being held, in addition to the anger of Israeli public opinion over the security failures in preventing a Hamas attack. The decline in hope of recovering the hostages may lead to intensifying political pressures once morest Netanyahu, whose popularity has declined. Significantly, voices emerged calling for him to step down.
The Washington Post quotes a number of officials as saying that Biden’s statements critical of Netanyahu will not have an impact “unless the United States begins to impose conditions on its support for Israel, and takes a decision not to grant Netanyahu a “blank support check.”
Political cost
Netanyahu achieves political points in his public rejection of Biden’s advice and his challenge to American demands. He focuses on his political survival, and stands in the face of Biden’s efforts to implement the two-state solution. He boasts of his ability to challenge the Biden administration by saying: “No” to American demands.
On the other hand, Biden appears weak in the face of Netanyahu’s public contempt for him, and experts indicate that Biden is beginning to run out of patience with the way Netanyahu’s government is managing the military campaign.
Biden is paying a high political cost for his support of Israel. There is no press conference or election rally in which Biden participates, without him facing activists demanding a ceasefire, ending the war, and saving the innocent Palestinians.
The demonstrations did not stop in front of the White House and in front of the home of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. His popularity has declined significantly among young people, Arab Americans, and black minorities, due to his support for Israel, which places further burdens on his re-election campaign for a second term.
The American President is betting on saving his deteriorating popularity by pushing for a deal that will lead to a ceasefire, the release of hostages, including 8 Americans, increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and paving the way for a two-state solution. The chances of this bet diminish with Israeli stubbornness and defiance.
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