Tel Aviv Tribune Net correspondents
Washington- Differences between the United States and Israel became public on Tuesday, as US President Joe Biden warned that Israel was losing international support for its military campaign against the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke publicly about US plans for the future of the Gaza Strip (what after the war).
These divisions, most of which have so far been contained behind the scenes, reflect growing disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv, due to the rising civilian death toll in Gaza.
Speaking to Democratic donors in Washington yesterday morning, Biden criticized the hard-line Israeli government and said, “Netanyahu needs to change his approach.”
Biden added, “I think he has to change, and the current government in Israel makes it difficult for him to move,” describing Netanyahu’s government as “the most extremist government in the history of Israel.”
Biden warned that American support for the military campaign against Hamas was diminishing with the continued violent bombing of the Gaza Strip, and added that the Israeli government “does not want a two-state solution,” expressing at the same time his fears that Washington would lose its moral leadership in the world, due to its support for Israel.
American support…but
Ambassador David Mack, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, who previously worked at his country’s consulate in Jerusalem, indicated that Biden is changing his position depending on the developments and direction of events.
In an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net, Ambassador Mack considered that “the combined influence of our Arab partners, Netanyahu’s growing unpopularity with enlightened Israelis, and the increasing American internal criticism of our undue support with this right-wing Israeli government, are all factors that contributed to influencing President Biden.”
Mack added that Biden “is an experienced politician, learns from his mistakes, and his position has evolved to suit changing circumstances.”
President Biden had taken a position in full support of the Israeli position and version of events since the seventh of last October, as he supported Israel militarily, financially, diplomatically, and psychologically. He visited Israel and met with its leaders, in addition to meeting with the families of hostages and prisoners held by Hamas. Biden called for the complete elimination of Hamas, while continuing to refuse to call for a ceasefire.
During a speech by the US President at a reception marking the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah at the White House, Biden acknowledged that Israel is in a “difficult position” after the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza, and hinted at differences with Netanyahu amid the current fighting. However, Biden stressed that Washington will continue to provide military assistance to Israel “until it gets rid of Hamas.”
The future of Gaza
Charles Dunn, a former official at the White House and US State Department and currently an expert at the Arab Institute in Washington, and lecturer at George Washington University, suggested that Netanyahu’s talk about reoccupying Gaza indefinitely would increase the possibilities of confrontation between him and Biden.
Speaking to Tel Aviv Tribune Net, Dan considered that Biden’s statements represent “increasing frustration with an ally he strongly supported, which exposes him to great political danger. In return, this ally rejected Washington’s plan to govern Gaza after the war, and made Washington’s diplomacy more difficult.”
In turn, Ned Lazarus, a lecturer specializing in international affairs at George Washington University, pointed out that the position of the US administration, and President Biden personally in this case, is consistent with his policy. He said, “The President has stated several times, since the beginning of the crisis, that the American administration’s vision for a hypothetical day after Hamas in Gaza is that there will be no long-term Israeli reoccupation of Gaza, and that the revitalized Palestinian Authority will eventually assume control of the Strip, and that when… At this point, there will be negotiations towards a two-state solution.”
In an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net, Professor Lazarus considered that “President Biden’s statements express his frustration with Netanyahu’s repeated public statements rejecting the American vision for the future of Gaza, and insisting instead that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will rule Gaza after the war.”
He continued, “President Biden will likely force Netanyahu to choose between maintaining vital American support for the Israeli military offensive, or preserving his current far-right coalition government.”
Lazarus concluded his speech by emphasizing that Washington “prefers to work with a more moderate Israeli government,” and added that “there is no doubt that President Biden realizes that, according to public opinion polls, he is currently much more popular among Israelis than their prime minister.”
#urgent | The White House: We cannot go back to what was before October 7, and we believe that Hamas cannot remain ruler of Gaza after the end of the war
To follow developments #Gaza_War via channel #Tel Aviv Tribune On WhatsApp: pic.twitter.com/AlR3MXCMMP– Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) November 1, 2023
Biden advisor warns
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who heads to Israel later this week, said he intends to convey President Biden’s concerns to Israeli officials about how long it will take Israel to complete the next phase of its campaign against Hamas.
Speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council on Tuesday, Sullivan added, “I will certainly speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the war cabinet, and national security leaders about timetables and how they think about it, refusing to go into the details of the American message.”